Over 3,000 athletes are expected to participate next week’s 27th edition of the Discovery Cross Country, which is scheduled for Sunday 28.
Organizers of the event, led by Eldoret Sports Club, Athletics Kenya Central Rift chairman Abraham ‘Solo’ Mutai said they expect a large number of participants, including to athletes from across the country.
“The field is ready and word is out there about the Discovery Cross Country. I expect a big turn out tomorrow (Sunday) since most of the athletes who a targeting a slot in Team Kenya for the Africa Cross Country and Commonwealth Games will come here to gauge their training,” he said when he spoke to the media on Saturday.
Asbel Kiprop is among the top names expected to feature, with the Beijing 2008 Olympics and three-time 1,500m World champion expected to use the race as part of his training for this year’s calendar events.
Kiprop will be taking part in the African Championships in Nigeria in August, as well as the IAAF Continental Cup slated for September 8-9 in Ostrava, Czech Republic.
Olympic and World 3,000m steeplechase champion Conseslus Kipruto is another star who will grace the occasion, in what will be a tight race.