National athletics head coach to the African Cross Country Championships, John Kimetto, has expressed his confidence in retaining the African crown a day after Team Kenya to the March 14 showpiece in Chlef, Algeria, was named. Kimetto said despite missing the services of top cross country runners like World Cross country and World Half Marathon champion Geofrey Kamworor, World Half silver medallist and former World Cross second finisher Bedan Karoki and world 5000m champion Hellen Obiri, Kimetto said the athletes picked during a grueling national trials had all the credentials to retain the title they won in Yaoundé, Cameroon two years ago. Kimetto said: “The selected team is strong since it has both experienced athletes and first timers. We will be analysing the selected athletes from all participating countries and see how we will tackle them. I want them to understand that there is no difference between the trials and the championships it’s all competition.”

Source: The Star February 11, 2018 21:00 UTC