KDF begin campaigns to reclaim lost grip

Women's winner Sharon Cherop of Kenya crosses the finish line of the 2012 Boston Marathon in Boston, Monday, April 16, 2012. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola)

Kahawa barracks comes alive tomorrow morning when the Kenya Defence Forces stage their 35th cross-country championships.

The KDF action, which will be used to pick its team for the national cross-country championships next month, will see the soldiers struggling to fashion a strong team that will represent them at the national trials-cum-IAAF Permit meeting at Uhuru Gardens next month.

The showpiece, which has over years replicated Kenya’s cross-country top cream, except in 2013 when none of KDF athletes made the team to the IAAF World Cross Country Championships will see its various barracks parade classy line-ups.

Kahawa’s world half marathon champion Gladys Cherono and former Boston marathon winner Sharon Cherop of Armour Brigade will headline the stellar cast at the Kahawa Garrison.

They will take on former Olympic 1,500m champion Nancy Jebet Lagat (Moi Airbase) and Africa bronze medalist Jane Chelagat.

But they need to be at their best to stop World Indoor 1,500m silver medallist Hellen Obiri of Laikipia Airbase and former World Youth 1,500m champion Sheila Chepkurui.

Former Commonwealth Games 3,000m steeplechase bronze medalist Mercy Njoroge of Moi Airbase (Mab) and former world junior 3,000m champion Veronica Nyaruai of Laikipia Airbase (Lab) will spice up the line-up.

Perennial world cross-country runner Linet Chepkurui (Mab), former Rotterdam Marathon winner Jemima Chelagat, World Cross Country runner Gladys Chemweno and former Boston Marathon winner Sharon Cherop will also offer a mouth-watering battle.

Chepkirui, a four-time KDF cross-country champion, will be back for another shot at the silverware.

In the men’s front, Olympic 3,000m steeplechase bronze medalist Abel Mutai is expected to raise the adrenaline level.

But they will walk a tight rope against former Africa 1,500m silver medalist Gideon Gathimba, competing for Laikipia Airbase (LAB), in the battle for bragging rights.

Former Africa 800m bronze medalists Jackson Kivuva and defending champion Leonard Oloitiptip do not expect a soft landing as they square it out with a handful of newcomers. World half marathon sensation Kiplimo Kimutai is also in the mix.

Thika-based John Kipkoech Chepkwony, who posted a brilliant 12:45 in 5,000m last season but bowed out in the semi-finals at the World Championships in Moscow, will lead the Engineers Battalion.

Things might not work well in presence of Frankfurt marathon winner Mark Kiptoo of Laikipia Airbase when the 38-year-old but evergreen runner sets his sights on cross-country silverware.

World cross-country bronze medalist Vincent Kiprop Chepkok and Peter Mateelong, the younger brother of former Commonwealth Games champion Richard Mateelong, are the other star attractions.

A new order was fashioned ahead of the 2013 World cross-country after KDF runners, who had dominated the Kenyan cross-country running at the IAAF World Cross-Country Championships –from five-time pair of John Ngugi and Paul Tergat; two-time winner William Sigei to 2010 winner Joseph Ebuya –missed out in the national team.