this time nervious coach warning
The Kenyan team to the World Cross Country Championships will lose if athletes concentrate only on beating their Ethiopian rivals, team captain John Kibowen has warned.
Kibowen on Tuesday warned his teammates against "putting too much concentration" in only beating Kenenisa Bekele, when there are many other equally strong rivals with the potential of causing upsets.
Kibowen said it would be a big mistake if Kenya was to work out most of its tactics in only beating the multiple world cross country champion. The Kenyans left for Fukuoka, Japan, on Tuesday. The event will take place on Saturday and Sunday.
"There are other equally good runners who will be lining up in Fukuoka and it will be suicidal for us if we only set our eyes on beating Bekele alone," Kibowen said.
Kibowen said other than the Ethiopians, former Kenyan citizens, but who have switched loyalty to the Gulf States, would also pose strong challenge to the Kenyans.
Top on the list is Saif Saeed Shaheen (formerly Stephen Cherono), who is now running for Qatar. There are others now running for Bahrain, who are likely to put up a tough challenge.
Bekele will be out to prove he is still the world's best when he squares it out with Augustine Choge and Benjamin Limo in the 4km race. The Ethiopian will also line up in the 12km race to defend the title he has won since 2002 in Dublin, Ireland.
But Kibowen, who is a former two-time world cross-country short course champion said the team was in good shape to challenge for medals in Fukuoka.
"The Commonwealth team did us proud and we intend to take a leaf from their Melbourne achievement to spur us on in Fukuoka," Kibowen said.
Several athletes who won at the Commonwealth Games will also be aiming for a repeat performance in Japan.
They include gold medalists Choge and Isabella Ochichi, and bronze medallist Benjamin Limo.
Junior runner, Joseph Ebuya, who was also in Melbourne, will be leading the 8 km junior race squad. The full squad has: Senior men 12km -Hosea Macharinyang, Simon Kiprop, Martin Mathathi, Simon Arusei, John Kibowen , Mike Kigen.
Senior 4km men: Isaac Songok, Augustine Choge, Yusuf Biwott, Edwin Soi, Brimin Kipruto, Benjamin Limo.
Junior men 8km- Mangata Ndiwa, Joseph Ebuya, Muinde Matheka, Ronald Komol, Thomas Loriongosiwa, Daniel Gitau.