By Athletics Kenya
Team Kenya’s World Cross Country Championships team manager, Paul Tuitoek, has exuded confidence that the country’s 35-strong squad is fully primed to stamp its authority on the global stage at the championships slated for January 10 in Tallahassee, Florida.
Tuitoek was speaking at the Windsor Hotel in Nairobi, where Team Kenya has set up base ahead of their departure to the United States for the global showpiece.
Before relocating to Nairobi, the squad had been locked in a high-intensity residential training camp at St Mark’s Teachers College in Kigari, a familiar high-altitude cradle that has long forged Kenya’s cross-country giants.
Who is Team Kenya’s cross-country coach?
According to Tuitoek, the team has sharpened its competitive edge under the watchful eye of veteran tactician Julius Kirwa, with every session carefully calibrated to fine-tune strength, speed and race intelligence.
“The team has prepared very well under chief coach Julius Kirwa, who is working closely with a team of experienced coaches,” Tuitoek said.
“They have worked together seamlessly to ensure the athletes are in peak condition.”
He reiterated that the squad is brimming with confidence and ready to deliver a dominant performance on 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.
Preparations, Tuitoek added, are still ongoing, with final touches being applied to ensure the athletes hit the start line firing on all cylinders.
“We are continuing with our preparations in a bid to get the team fully ready for the competition as we hope for great performances,” he noted.
Team Kenya is scheduled to depart in two batches beginning Monday. He further revealed that all travel documentation has been successfully secured.
“On the visas, so far so good. We are very happy with the US Embassy, which has helped us a lot to acquire the visas,” he said.
Tuitoek also expressed gratitude to Athletics Kenya and the government for the unwavering support extended to the squad during their preparations.
Kenya’s senior men plot X-Country redemption in Florida showdown
Meanwhile, Team Kenya’s senior men’s 10km World Cross Country Championships squad is brimming with confidence as it eyes a return to the top of the individual podium when the gun goes off at the global showpiece on January 10 in Tallahassee, Florida.
The last time Kenya celebrated an individual men’s world cross country champion was in 2017 in Kampala, Uganda, through Geoffrey Kamworor powered to gold.
Since then, the crown has slipped from Kenyan hands as Uganda’s distance aces have stamped their authority on the world stage.
Joshua Cheptegei ignited Uganda’s dominance by claiming the title in Aarhus in 2019 before completing a double with victory in Bathurst in 2023.
In the most recent edition, held in Belgrade, Serbia, Jacob Kiplimo claimed the title.
Despite the prolonged drought, Kenya’s camp remains upbeat, with coach Patrick Ivuti convinced that the current crop has both the pedigree and preparation to recapture the men’s individual crown.
“2017 is when the men last brought the individual title. I know this time round, with this team, we have the potential to bring back the medal just like in 2017,” Ivuti said.
“We have faith in this team. The training and cooperation from the athletes have been very good. We have high hopes for them, and they are very focused. We wish them all the best in Florida,” he added.
Ivuti underlined that discipline and execution will be key on race day, stressing that success will come if the athletes stick to the race plan.
“If they do what we have been telling them and directing them, they will come back home with the title,” he added.
Team Kenya’s senior men’s 10km World Cross Country Championships squad
The men’s senior race, 2023 World 10,000m silver medallist Daniel Ebenyo, will spearhead the Kenyan onslaught.
Adding further firepower is a deep cast featuring rising star Ishmael Rokitto alongside Edwin Bett, Robert Koech, Weldon Langat, Shadrack Koech, Denis Kemboi and Kevin Chesang.
Rising star Rokitto echoed his coach’s confidence, noting that the squad is driven not only to defend the overall crown but also to reclaim the individual title in the men’s race.
“We have been in camp for a month, and training has been good. We thank God there are no serious injuries in the team,” Rokitto said.
“Everyone is focused on going to Florida and coming back with medals. We are going there as the defending champions, so our main focus is bringing back the individual title in the men’s race.”
At the 2024 edition, Kenya was crowned overall champions in the senior men’s race after amassing 19 points, with Uganda (31 points) and Ethiopia (40 points) completing the podium.
