Kamworor, Joyciline main focus in Valencia

The absence of top women runners from the starting line at the IAAF World Half Marathon Championships in Valencia on Saturday will be the least of concerns as two-time champion Geoffrey Kamworor and world record-holder Joyciline Jepkosgei spend time at press points around the race venue on Thursday.

The two Kenyan stars are the most sought-after athletes in Valencia as the Spanish city builds up to Saturday’s 21-kilometre spectacle on a fast course that could easily attract world records.

Kenya’s 2016 bronze medallist at these championships, Mary Wacera, and Ras Al Khaimah Half Marathon champion, Fancy Chemutai, are late withdrawals from the Valencia run, both saying they had picked up injuries. Kenya will now field three women runners — Jepkosgei, Ruth Chepg’etich and Pauline Kaveke — as it’s too late for replacements to be made.

Athletics Kenya chief executive officer Susan Kamau confirmed that Wacera and Chemutai withdrew in the last minute with injuries, making it impossible to replace them.

The team arrived in Valencia on Thursday to join Kamworor who had arrived in the Spanish city on Tuesday.

“I was prepared for the race and I knew I was going to register good results only for my ankle to twist while I was training in Nyahururu,” said Wacera on Thursday. She had travelled to Nairobi on Monday to collect her passport and went back home to prepare for her departure.

“I was in Nairobi on Monday to collect my visa and even went back home to prepare for my departure but the unfortunate thing happened to me after my ankle twisted in a hole,” said Wacera. She wished the rest of the team well in the races.

“I really feel bad that I will not compete but I want to wish those in the team the best as they meet with the world to battle it out for the top honours,” she said.

Meanwhile, Chemutai could not be reached for a comment, but her coach, Sammy Bii, confirmed that indeed she had an injury to her leg.

“Chemutai had to cancel her race due to an injury to her leg,” Bii told Nation Sport.

Jepkosgei, who trained in Iten, Elgeyo-Marakwet County, before her departure, said she will be targeting a championship record this time round.

“I will be running my own race and I want to record the best time in the championships. My training was good because it was injury-free despite some rains and what remains is to implement,” said Jepkosgei. “I have not represented Kenya in a championships but I will do my best to make sure I be on the podium,” said the athlete.

A last ditch effort to have reserve Joan Chelimo included by the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) proved a cropper with the final entries were made on Monday last week.

The men’s team has a full entry of five athletes with the Kenya Defence Forces long distance runner Alex Oloitiptip having replaced two times World Half Marathon silver Bedan Karoki before the final entries deadline.