Athletes collect bibs ahead of Saturday’s National Cross Country trials in Eldoret

It’s all systems go for the National Cross Country set for Saturday in Eldoret,the which will also double up as the trials for next year’s World Cross Country Championships in the USA.

Over 400 athletes who will compete at the Eldoret Sports Club on Saturday turned up in numbers at the same venue to collect their running bibs on Friday.

Among the big names expected in tomorrow’s show down in the latest city in Kenya are defending champions Daniel Ebenyo Simiu of Police and Brilliant Jepkorir from the Kenya Prisons Service, who are aiming to retain the titles they won at the same venue on 8th February this year.

Coaches, led by seasoned tactician Julius Kirwan, took athletes through competition rules and selection criteria for the global championships.

Saturday’s programme will kick off with the 6km and 8km under 20 women and men, respectively, followed by the 10km senior women and men.

The event will culminate with the 2km loop, after which Athletics Kenya will name a team of about 30 athletes to represent the country in the World Cross Country Championships set for Tallahassee, Florida, in the USA on 10th January next year.