by Alfonz Juck
557 runners from 59 countries
KAMPALA (UGA): Preliminary entries have been released for the World Cross Country Championships in Kampala on Sunday. The Ugandan capital is ready to welcome 557 runners from 59 countries and one refugee team. The event will take place at the Kololo Independence Grounds, around three kilometres from the city centre. The men’s senior race is the biggest race of the event with 159 athletes from 49 countries taking part, including reigning champion Geoffrey Kamworor, reigning bronze medallist Muktar Edris from Ethiopia and home favourite Stephen Kiprotich. The senior women’s race includes reigning champion Agnes Tirop and two reigning Olympic champions: Kenya’s Faith Kipyegon and Bahrain’s Ruth Jebet. World U20 5000m champion Selemon Barega from Ethiopia is among the top names in the men’s U20 race while Letesenbet Gidey will defend her title in the women’s U20 race. Asbel Kiprop and Genzebe Dibaba lead the Kenyan and Ethiopian mixed relay teams but Turkey also has a strong team including European XC champions Yasemin Can and Aras Kaya. The figures are 117 women from 34 countries, among U20 boys 121 from 29 and U20 girls 108 from 30 countries. For premiere of mixed relays 13 countries are entered.
