World Cross Country 2017: It's full throttle

PIC: Team Uganda athletes relax after a tough training session in Bukwo. (Credit: Mpalanyi Ssentongo)

Athletics giants Ethiopia and Kenya are leaving nothing to chance ahead of the World Cross Country.

The two nations' quest for maximum points has had them enter full teams for the March 26 Kampala event. Uganda will also have a full team.

The team is currently in serious high altitude preparation in Kapchorwa. In an incredible show of dominance, the senior men's team race has been won by Ethiopia or Kenya every year since 1981 in both the short and long races.

These nations have enjoyed a similar strangle-hold on the junior men's races since 1982.

In the senior men's 12 km race, Kenya won the world championships for an astounding 18 years in a row, from 1986 through 2003, a record of unequaled international success. Likewise on the women's side, only one other nation has won the long team race since 1991: Portugal, in 1994.

"Full entries by Ethiopia and Kenya are yet another bold statement of their chase for medals," said Uganda's coach Benjamin Longiros.

But Longiros says he is also doing everything within his means to get a good share of the podium. A total of 60 countries have so far confirmed participation in the world meet.

There is time to clean up as some of the runners do their laundry in Kapchorwa. (Credit: Mpalanyi Ssentongo)

In the senior and junior categories every country is allowed up to six athletes of which four score. It is only in the mixed relays where a team comprises of strictly four runners of which two are female and two male.

The local organizing committee says entry of over 70 is expected before Monday's deadline. LOC secretary and IAAF world cross country committee member Beatrice Ayikoru said the number could swell in the final week.

"Some countries wait for the final week. So chances are high of an entry of over 70."

Ecuador and Kuwait were by the weekend the latest entries for the March 26 event.

Algeria, Australia, Canada, China, Japan, USA, Great Britain and South Africa will also have full teams. Uganda will become the fourth African country to stage cross country's biggest event.

Morocco hosted the third edition in 1975. South Africa was next in 1996 before Morocco hosting again in 1998 and Kenya in 2007.