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Kenya: Athletics - Cross Squad Winds Up Training
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The Nation (Nairobi)
25 March 2008
Posted to the web 24 March 2008
Chris Musumba
Nairobi
There was no Easter holiday for the national cross country team, which has been pitching camp in Embu for three weeks, as the coaches worked round the clock to give the athletes final touches before their departure Wednesday.
A long run on the outskirts of the town and light group training summed up the runners' Easter training as head coach Julius Kirwa moved out to jell the team and cobble a winning formula ahead of the World Championships in Edinburgh, Scotland, on Sunday.
Kenya, which has for eight years since the retirement of legendary Paul Tergat from cross country struggled to keep up pace with rivals Ethiopia, will be hoping to end their title drought in the senior men's and women individual titles in the Scottish city.
With 23 wins in 35 years, the country boost of a remarkable history, that is the envy of many. But that will just be history, and will count less on Sunday as Kirwa parades his best selection, which will either make him a hero or villain.
"We had no time to rest. But I am impressed with the commitment and focus the athletes have. It is what has been missing in this team for long, these group will certainly be able to perform well," said Kirwa.
The team has finished its endurance training programme and will only have light speed work Tuesday and Wednesday before heading to Nairobi, where they will be feted by Kenya Commercial Bank, the cross country official sponsors before jetting out to Edinburgh.
Kirwa, said that with majority of the team just graduating to the senior ranks, while others will be making their inaugural show in the competition at the international stage, many of the rivals countries will be surprised with their resilience as they seek to make their space on the top cadre.
Intense training
The coach has spent more time on the finishing sprint, which has for long been Kenya's undoing in major championship in the long distance races. Like in senior events, local runners have matched the pace of their opponent step by step, but are worn out in the final 2km where they lose ground.
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"This time round, our strategy will bear fruit. It will not be the same running skills that have for long been associated with Kenya, there is something new about this team, and only time will tell if they have come of age to display it to the world," said the coach.
After three weeks of intense training, the 27 member squad was ruled to be fit to face the world with no injury scares. Kirwa said the fatigue most athletes had when joining the camp have been adequately been dealt with. The team will wind up their training Wednesday with a slow paced forest run.
Team manager Peter Angwenyi, said after the gruelling training, the athletes have the final task of implementing the skills and show their talent on the course which several have already competed on before in Scotland.
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