Tuitoek bullish of Kenya's exploits at todays World X-Country

Team Kenya during a warm up session/ TEDDY MULEI

Team Kenya’s World Cross Country Championships manager, Paul Tuitoek, believes the country’s 35-member squad is fully prepared to assert its dominance at the global event taking place today in Tallahassee, Florida.

Kenya’s challenge will be led by 2023 World 10,000m silver medallist Daniel Ebenyo and women’s World 10km record holder Agnes Ng’etich in the senior races.

The Under-20 team will be spearheaded by World U-20 5,000m champion Andrew Alamisi and the African U-18 3,000m champion as Kenya looks to extend its rich legacy in cross country running.

The East African powerhouse heads into the Florida showdown as the overall defending champions, having topped the medal standings at the 2024 championships in Belgrade, Serbia.

In Belgrade, Kenya amassed an impressive 11 medals—six gold, two silver and three bronze—while also clinching overall team titles in the men’s, women’s, men’s U-20 and mixed relay categories.

Tuitoek attributed his confidence to the team’s rigorous preparations before their departure to the United States earlier this week. The squad underwent a one-month high-intensity residential training camp at St Mark’s Teachers College in Kigari, a renowned high-altitude base that has produced many of Kenya’s cross country greats.

Training was conducted under the guidance of chief coach Julius Kirwa, alongside a team of experienced coaches, a factor Tuitoek believes has ensured the athletes are in peak condition.

“The team has prepared very well under chief coach Julius Kirwa, who worked closely with a team of experienced coaches,” Tuitoek said. “They have worked together seamlessly to ensure the athletes are in peak condition.”

He added that the squad is brimming with confidence and ready to rise to the challenge posed by the demanding Tallahassee course.

“This team is ready for the competition and we continue to wish them the very best as they prepare for the showdown,” he said.

Kenya, however, faces formidable opposition from the world’s top distance runners.

In the senior men’s race, Ebenyo is expected to battle defending champion Jacob Kiplimo of Uganda and Ethiopia’s Olympic 10,000m silver medallist Berihu Aregawi, while the host nation will rally behind 2024 NCAA 5,000m silver medallist Nico Young.

In the senior women’s contest, Ng’etich will come up against a strong Ugandan challenge led by Rebecca Chelangat. The U-20 women’s race is set to feature a keen battle between Kenya’s Cynthia Chepkirui and defending champion Marta Alemayo of Ethiopia.

Tuitoek also expressed gratitude to Athletics Kenya and the government for their unwavering support during the team’s preparations.

“We wish to thank Athletics Kenya for the guidance they have given the team, and also the government for their support,” he said.

Sending a message to Kenyan fans, Tuitoek assured them that the athletes are determined to defend the nation’s overall crown.

“To our fans, our team is set to defend the overall title. We are going to do our best, and we promise that the team will give its very best in Florida,” he said.