Uganda’s Oscar Chelimo, Dan Kibet, and Kenneth Kiprop will be among the key contenders at the 70th Cross Internacional Zornotza in Amorebieta, Spain, on Sunday (20).
The event, part of the World Athletics Cross Country Tour, features a competitive field with the Ugandan trio looking to challenge the top cross-country specialists.
Oscar Chelimo, who won bronze in the 5000m at the 2022 World Championships, enters the race with momentum after setting a personal best of 12:54.59 for the distance earlier this year.
Chelimo’s success on the international stage makes him a top contender, and his performance on Sunday will be closely watched.
Dan Kibet, another formidable runner from Uganda, is fresh from a strong showing at the World Cross Country Championships, where he narrowly missed out on a top-10 finish.
Kibet also secured a win over 10km in Berlin with a time of 28:19, signaling his readiness for this weekend’s race.
Kenneth Kiprop, who earned bronze in the 5000m at the World U20 Championships in Lima, will also be aiming for a strong performance in Amorebieta.
Kiprop’s consistency in international competitions has made him a rising star for Uganda, and he will face stiff competition from athletes like Ethiopia’s Abdisa Fayisa, who took silver ahead of Kiprop in Lima.
The Ugandan athletes will face a competitive field that includes reigning World Cross Country Tour champion Rodrigue Kwizera of Burundi, who has been in impressive form on the roads this year. Kwizera is expected to be their toughest rival, but the Ugandan trio is prepared to deliver a strong showing.
As the first Gold meeting of the season, the Cross Internacional Zornotza is expected to provide a thrilling start to the cross-country season, with Uganda’s top runners aiming to make a mark.
