World junior cross-country bronze medallist Pamela Kosgei and 2018 World Under-20 5,000m champion Edward Zakayo will highlight the Athletics Kenya Elgeyo Marakwet County cross country meeting set for Saturday at the Kapcherop Forest Ground.
Athletics Kenya (AK) North Rift public relations officer Boniface Tiren said: “These two athletes have been very instrumental and we look forward to a better year with them.”
Kosgei, the young sister to Olympic Games marathon silver medallist Brigid Kosgei, will be competing in the senior ranks ahead of the AK North Rift Championships set for next weekend.
The East Africa School Games 3,000m steeplechase champion also won the Africa U-20 3,000m steeplechase title last year.
Apart from the world cross country bronze medallist won last in Bathurst, Australia, she also won the first edition of the Sirikwa Cross Country Championships Under-20 title.
Zakayo, who will represent Marakwet West, will also be seeking to be in contention for the World Cross Country Championships scheduled for Belgrade, Serbia, on March 30.
Zakayo also won silver at the 2017 World U-18 5,000m in Nairobi before winning the 2018 World U-20 5,000m title in Tampere, Finland. He also won the 5,000m bronze medal at the 2018 Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast, Australia.
In West Pokot County, Tiren expects the likes of world 5,000m silver medallist Jacob Krop to seek regional tickets during the event to be staged at the Kishaunet Showground. “Apart from Krop, we have athletes like Charles Rotich, who have had a good season, winning in various events,” said Tiren.
Trans Nzoia County will converge at the Kitale Showground while Turkana and Samburu will stage their championships at Lodwar Primary School and Kenyatta Stadium respectively.
Central Rift, which has counties like Uasin Gishu, Nandi and Baringo, will stage their championships at Kipsinende Primary, Kapsabet Showground and Sinonin Secondary School grounds respectively.
