Chelangat eyeing top prize at Police Cross Country

Chelangat eyeing top prize at Police Cross Country

National Cross Country Champion Sheila Chelangat will be going for nothing short of victory when the National Police Service Cross Country Championships goes down at the Ngong Race Course on Friday.

Chelangat who triumphed in the second leg of Athletics Kenya Cross Country series held last month in Mosoriot, Nandi County is however wary of the tough competition that awaits her from her compatriots.

The 22-year-old is expected to battle it out with former champions Stacy Ndiwa and Margaret Chelimo who ranked second and third respectively last year.

World 3000m steeplechase champion Beatrice Chepkoech as well as the 2014 Commonwealth Games 5000m champion Mercy Cherono are also set to spice up the event.

“I know it is not going to be easy. It will be a different race from the one I won in Mosoriot. Right now I don’t know the shape of my colleague so I am going to do best and see how my body responds,” said Chelangat.

Chelangat will be returning to the same venue where she clinched her national title last year just a few months before the onset of coronavirus that would rampage the athletics calendar.

The athlete who trains in Kericho County was however lucky when athletics action resumed as she paced the London Marathon and led Sifan Hassan to break the world hour record in Brussels Diamond League.

With the delayed Olympic Games also around the corner, Chelangat said she is also gunning for a slot in the Summer Games.

“My target is to qualify for the Olympics in 5000m. Since it is still early in the season, I believe the Cross Country will help me gauge my fitness and endurance ahead of a very busy season,” she said.

At the same time, a mouth-watering encounter is expected in the men’s race as Geoffrey Kamworor who has recovered from an injury lay off will be seeking his eight-consecutive title.

The record-breaking Kamworor announced his comeback yesterday where he was also confirmed for the Ras Al Khaimah (RAK) Half Marathon slated for next month.

“It’s time to race again! After months of working hard to recover from my injury, I’m very excited to be on the starting line again in RAK to get my season going,” said Kamworor.

The Law Enforcers will also use the event to select its team for the national cross country championships planned for February 13

Want to send us a story? Submit on Wananchi Reporting on the Citizen Digital App or Send an email to wananchi@royalmedia.co.ke or Send an SMS to 25170 or WhatsApp on 0743570000

Leave a Comment

Comments

No comments yet.

latest stories