Emily Chebet wins the world cross-country title (© Getty Images)
Athletics Kenya selectors have made their final choices for the IAAF World Cross Country Championships, Guiyang 2015.
World cross-country champion Japhet Korir had been given a wildcard to join the national squad after finishing 48th at the Kenyan Trials, but he did not make the cut for the final selections after attending their pre-championships training camp in Kigari.
But fellow world cross-country champion Emily Chebet, who was also given a wildcard after a disappointing showing at the trials, has been named on the senior women’s final team, following the withdrawals from national champion Faith Kipyegon and Alice Aprot.
The senior men’s team is led by national champion Bedan Karoki, who will be making his first appearance at the World Cross, having previously represented Kenya in the 10,000m at the 2012 Olympics and 2013 World Championships.
He is joined by world junior cross-country silver medallist and African cross-country champion Leonard Barsoton, world half-marathon champion Geoffrey Kamworor, African junior cross-country champion Moses Mukono, 2012 Hannover Marathon champion Joseph Kitum and Phillip Langat.
Chebet is one of four athletes on the senior women’s team to have previous won medals at the World Cross.
The two-time world cross-country champion will be joined in Guiyang by world junior cross-country silver medallist Agnes Tirop, 2008 world junior cross-country silver medallist Irene Cheptai, Commonwealth 5000m and African cross-country silver medallist Janet Kisa, 2011 African junior 1500m bronze medallist Stacy Ndiwa and Margaret Kipkemboi.
The junior men’s team includes national trials winner Dominic Kiptarus and Youth Olympic 3000m bronze medallist Moses Koech.
Youth Olympic and world youth steeplechase champion Rosefline Chepngetich leads a powerful junior women’s team. Joining her is 2012 world junior steeplechase champion Daisy Jepkemei and Youth Olympic 1500m silver medallist Winfred Mbithe.
IAAF
Kenyan team for Guiyang 2015
Senior men: Leonard Barsoton, Geoffrey Kamworor, Bedan Karoki, Joseph Kitum, Phillip Langat, Moses Letoyie Mukono
Senior women: Emily Chebet, Irene Cheptai, Agnes Tirop, Margaret Kipkemboi, Janet Kisa, Stacy Ndiwa
Junior men: Rodgers Chumo, Dominic Kiptarus, Moses Koech, Geoffrey Korir, John Langat, Alfred Ngeno
Junior women: Rosefline Chepngetich, Joyline Cherotich, Daisy Jepkemei, Gladys Kipkoech, Winnie Koima, Winfred Mbithe
