Nairobi — Eliud Kipchoge remains Kenya's biggest hope for a gold medal at the world cross-country championships in Paris next month.

The world 5,000 metres champion produced a flawless display of calculated running to win the 12-kilometre men's race at the national cross-country championships in Nairobi, restoring hope to Kenyans who have been frustrated by recent setbacks at the hands of Ethiopians.

In Belgium last year, Ethiopia's latest distance running sensation, Kenenisa Bekele, took double gold in the four- and 12-kilometre races at the world championships, continuing from where he left the previous year where he notched up another double in Lausanne.

But what is most worrying is that, Kipchoge aside, Kenya does not seem to have athletes capable of challenging the Ethiopians. The recent dominance of veteran athletes like 35-year-old Paul Tergat and 36-year-old John Kibowen raises one question: Where are the younger athletes?

What is obvious is that there are serious flaws on Athletics Kenya's technical bench as a result of which we are unable to develop our impressive juniors into formidable senior athletes.

Another danger is the fact that the Gulf nations like Qatar and Bahrain, are snatching junior talent from Kenya and posing serious threats. If remedial measures are not taken promptly, we will soon be playing second fiddle to these emerging nations.

It will be interesting to see what approach Athletics Kenya's coaches will take as the cross-country team heads to Embu today for residential training ahead of the world championships in Paris.

Whatever they do, they should bear in mind it will be very difficult for Kenya to win back the team title from Ethiopia who stole it last year after failing in the past 18 years.