Kampala ready to light up World Cross Country

iaaf president Sebastian Coe Hellen Delany and Prince Monaco tours Kololo Airstrip.PHOTO/Raymond Makhaya

KAMPALA, Uganda, March 25 – A challenging course that has a ditch among other obstacles await 550 athletes ahead of Sunday’s IAAF World Cross Country Championships at the Kololo Grounds in Kampala, but that does not deter the focus of three-time world champion Asbel Kiprop who goes head-to-head with Ethiopian star Genzebe Dibaba in the mixed relays.

Team Kenya is familiar with the course that hosted the 2014 African Cross Country Championships although it did not have such obstacles as well as Kiprop who is returning to the World Cross for the first time in 10 years.

“When the IAAF introduced the mixed relay, I must say thank you. This is what brought me back to cross country. It’s a new experience and is going to be very interesting. This race, and the World Relays, is all also an important part of the build-up towards London.”

He’s also pleased that like in 2007, he didn’t have to travel too far.

“Having the world come to east Africa, I feel proud to come to these championships as an athlete.”

It was a busy evening for the Local Organising Committee who were racing against time to ensure everything was set. Teams was busy doing the final touches in the various teams continued with their training,

The course is located at Kololo Independence Grounds, approximately three kilometres from the city centre. It hosted the 2014 African Cross Country Championships and, more recently, the Ugandan Cross Country Championships in January.

The two-kilometre loop is mostly covered in grass and has an average elevation of about seven metres. In addition to the two natural hills, a man-made hill, a ditch and other obstacles have been added to make the course more challenging.

The U20 women’s race is made up of three laps, while the U20 men’s race will be held over four laps. Both of the senior races comprise five laps. Runners in the mixed relay will complete one lap each for a total of four laps per team.

 

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