Kenya’s team for the World Cross Country Championships is on a voyage to Australia for the global event that will be held this Saturday in Bathurst.

The team which consists of 28 athletes (13 women and 15 men) left the country on Monday morning and is expected to land in Bathurst on Tuesday.

Prior to the departure, the team was hosted to a farewell dinner last evening at a Nairobi hotel where Australian High Commissioner to Kenya Luke Williams was in attendance.

Team manager Patrick Arandu said the athletes are ready to put in a good show after a month-long residential training in Kigari, Embu.

“We have had a very successful training session for the past month in Kigari and I can confidently tell Kenyans to expect good results from this team. We have trained under similar conditions that we expect to experience in Bathurst.

Kenya will be fielding athletes in all the five categories that consists of;6km junior women, 8km junior men,10km senior men and women and the mixed relay race.

At the same time, Arandu noted that they are prepared to tackle their opponents especially neighbours Uganda and Ethiopia who have equally sent strong delegations to the championship.

Defending champion Joshua Cheptegei and silver medalist Jacob Kiplimo both of Uganda are among the entries in the men’s 10km race where they face off with Kenyan contingent that is made up of bronze medalist Geoffrey Kamworor, Sebastian Kimaru, Emmanuel Kiprop and commonwealth medalists Kibiwott Kandie, Daniel Simiu and Nicholas Kimeli.

The women’s senior race has world 3000m steeplechase record holder Beatrice Chepkoech, Commonwealth 5000m champion Beatrice Chebet, 2013 champion Emily Chebet, Edinah Jebitok, Cynthia Chepngeno, Grace Loibach and Agnes Jebet.

The men’s 8km under-race comprizes of world under-20 1500m champion Reynold Kipkorir, Daniel Kinyanjui, Dennis Mutuku, Dennis Kipkirui, Charles Rotich and Ismael Kipkirui.

Diana Chepkemoi, Joyline Chepkemoi, Faith Cherotich and Pamela Kosgei form the girls’6km under-20 team.

 “We know we will be up against the best athletes on the planet, not only from our neighbours. In any competition you must give your best and that is our promise to Kenyans as we head to Australia,” said Arandu.

During the last edition of the World Cross Country Championships held in Aarhus, Denmark in 2019, Kenya bagged three medals; two gold and a bronze.

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