Cross Country: Cheptegei and Chelimo set to do battle

National Cross Country Championship

Venue: Tororo (9am)

The small matter of Joshua Cheptegei and Jacob Kiplimo's emerging rivalry is likely to dominate the National Cross Country Championship in Tororo on Saturday morning.

While Cheptegei has been the dominant figure in Ugandan athletics over the last couple of years, Kiplimo a junior World Cross Country champion has since upgraded to senior level ready to take on Cheptegei.

What a battle it will be!

The decorated Cheptegei is a double Commonwealth champion and 15km world record holder.

While this may sound scary, Kiplimo is bringing an equally impressive track record on the table. That Kiplimo is unbeaten in five IAAF Cross Country Challenge races should be cause for alarm to Cheptegei.

Kiplimo will be a threat to Cheptegei.

Going into the Tororo race, Kiplimo's manager Dr Flavio Pasqualato highlighted the confidence which drives on the 18-year-old athlete.

"He believes he is among the world's best and is determined to prove exactly that," Pasqualato was quoted as saying.

This will not be the first time Kiplimo challenges Cheptegei's supremacy. Last month the two met in the Cross Internacional De Italica Cross Country in Spain in a 9.95km contest, where Kiplimo beat Cheptegei.

Away from the Cheptegei and Kiplimo showdown, Stella Chesang the Commonwealth 10,000m champion will have her mettle severely tested by defending champion Mercyline Chelangat who will be chasing a third straight win.

World Cross Country buildup

That Uganda's team to next month's World Cross Country will be selected after the Tororo event, is likely to spice up the race with athletes battling to catch the eye of UAF technical team.