In order to nurture junior athletes for future events, athletics coach Ian Kiprono will enter only junior athletes when the third leg of Athletics Kenya cross country championships will be staged in Iten, Elgeyo Marakwet County tomorrow.
Kiprono said that Maureen Chesang, and Caren Jepkosgei will lead the junior women under 20 category in the 6km while Owan Lokorodi and Mustafa Kibet will drive the junior boys under 20 side.
He said that being a national event, he will try to give them exposure to the national standards as part of their preparations for major events.
“These four are probables for better results at the meeting, which is being held at home. For now, my concentration has been on juniors,” said Kiprono.
With the race being held at the home of champions, the race is set to attract many athletes as part of their preparations for the world cross country championships in Belgrade, Serbia on March 30th 2024.
“Because they are young, I want to test them against other top athletes in their cadre. With the majority of them coming from the school calendar, they have to run and know their fitness to enter them in other races,” said Kiprono.
With some in school, sitting for the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE), Kiprono said he could have entered so many especially those that represented the country at the Africa under 20 and under 18 championships in Lusaka, Zambia and East Africa under 20 and under 18 championships in Arusha, Tanzania.
“I know they will conclude their examination on Friday but they cannot just come from class then less than 24 hours they are running, it won’t make sense to them and me as their coach,” said Kiprono.