Kenya name squad for World Cross Country Championship

Nairobi, Feb 19: Kenya have selected a team of 28 athletes and six officials for this year's World Cross Country Championships scheduled for March 26 in Kampala, Uganda.

The team was selected during the Kenya National Cross Country Championships held here on Saturday. It drew teams from all regions in the athletics-loving nation, reports Xinhua news agency.

Leonard Barsoton won the senior men's (10km) title clocking 28:56.3 to beat world half-marathon champion Bedan Karoki, who finished second with the time of 29:02.3, followed by Geoffrey Kamworor who timed 29:03.4.

All the three qualified for a slot in the team alongside Vincent Rono, Leonard Komon and Leonard Lagat.

In the senior women's 10km race, Irene Cheptai won when she finished in 31:47.5 followed by Lilian Kasai (31:51.9) and Faith Chepngetich (32:12.9).

The trio will be joined by Alice Aprot, Agnes Tirop and Hyvin Kiyeng to complete the women's team.

Kenya will also be represented at the championship in the men's under-20 8km and women's under-20 6km events respectively.

In the newly created mixed relays team event, Olympians Asbel Kiprop and Rio 800m bronze medallist Margaret Nyairera will lead the lineup that also consists of Bernard Kipkorir and Beatrice Chepkemoi.

Over 400 athletes from 51 countries and regions across the globe are expected to take part in the event that will be staged in Africa for the fifth time.