World Cross Country: Kenyan team confident of successful mixed relay title defence
Reading Time: 2min | Fri. 29.03.24. | 14:46
Three of the four winning team members from Bathurst are back on the Kenyan squad for Belgrade
Kenyan athletes are confident of retaining the World Cross Country mixed relay title when the 45th edition goes down on Saturday in Belgrade, Serbia.
The mixed relay title, introduced in 2017, is in the hands of Kenyans having regained it last year in Bathurst.
Three of the four winning team members from Bathurst are back on the Kenyan squad for Belgrade.
Emmanuel Wanyonyi won the world U20 800m title in 2021 and went on to finish fourth when making his senior debut at the World Athletics Championships in Oregon in 2022.
A year on from his mixed relay success in Australia, he now heads to Serbia as the world 800m silver medallist, Diamond League champion, and Rising Star award winner, looking for another honour to add to his CV.
Mirriam Cherop ran the second leg in Bathurst while Munguti Kyumbe took on the third and they could both join Wanyonyi in Belgrade.
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Kenya has named a six-strong squad to select a team from and adding further quality are world U20 mile record-holder Reynold Kipkorir Cheruiyot, who secured silver in the U20 men’s race in Bathurst last year and won the 2022 world U20 1500m title, plus 2021 world U20 1500m champion Purity Chepkirui and Virginia Nyambura.
The final composition of teams must be declared 95 minutes before the race in Belgrade.
Ahead of the showdown in Belgrade, the 20222, world U20 1500m champion Kipkorir said the Kenyan team had its sights trained on clinching gold.
Kipkorir, who featured in the 8k in last year’s edition said the team was constituted of strong athletes with the much-needed experience to deliver.
“We are certain of defending it. The preparations have been good although we haven’t done the final touches on the course,” said Kipkorir.
His sentiments were backed by Munguti who reminded his teammates of the significance of team spirit in such races.
“Hard work and planning will be key if we are to defend it. I have no doubt in the team in terms of endurance of the team and resolve to bring the title home,” he said.
