2017 World Cross Country: No easy road

PIC: Team Uganda training in Kapchorwa. (Credit: Norman Katende)

It's one thing running against Kenyans and Ethiopians. It's another having to also worry about those who also come dressed in an American or Bahraini jersey.
 
But as Uganda prepares to host the 2017 IAAF World Cross Country Championships due on March 26, the reality of widespread quality-competition due to the global disbursement of Kenyan and Ethiopian runners is one local athletics body UAF is all too aware of.
 
"We usually say there is Kenya A, Kenya B or Kenya C or Ethiopia A, Ethiopia B, Ethiopia C," joked UAF president Domenic Otucet.
 
"I've seen that the American team for the World Cross Country Championships has two Kenyans and there are other Kenyans or Ethiopians on other foreign teams like Belgium, Bahrain and Australia."
 
Of course, what this means is success becomes more complicated because good athletes who would not be part of the equation because of restrictive rules on the quota of athletes per country are now given a path through the change of nationality.
 
"It's going to be tough but that is what competition is all about," Otucet revealed. "We will have to compete for glory."
 
Kenya dominated the last championships in 2015, winning both senior categories, while Ethiopia claimed first place in both junior categories.
 
Moses Kipsiro won silver and bronze for Uganda in 2009 and 2010 while Boniface Kiprop won bronze in the men's junior in 2002 and two silvers in the same category in 2003 and 2004.

Moses Kibet claimed bronze in 2009 in the men's junior, with Thomas Ayeko equalling the feat in 2011.