Kenya: Masai Eyeing Gold

Nairobi Star (Nairobi)

William Njuguna

15 March 2011

WORLD 10,000m champion Linet Masai will be attempting to make it third time lucky at the World Cross Country Championships this weekend in Punta Umbria, Spain.

Masai has finished second twice in the world event in successive years and thinks it’s time to add the world title to her glittering array of achievements in the past four years. “I have come close in the last two editions and now I think it’s time to win the title. I hope this time round, I would be able to win the event,” she added.

Masai came close to winning the event in 2009 in Amman, Jordan but she was out kicked in the final kilometres by compatriot Florence Kiplagat, forcing her to settle for second place. The same happened last year when she lost to Emmily Chebet in the last metres during the event in Poland and once again she settled for silver. Chebet will not defend her title this year after failing to finish at the national trials last month at Uhuru Garden. “I have come close twice but lost. This year, my game plan is different as I have really improved on my kick in the last few weeks we have been in training at Kigari Teachers Training College. I believe I have the strength to go all the way and win the title,” added Masai.

Masai said team work will be key in Kenya’s success but observed she will have to stay in the front and keep a close eye on compatriot Vivian Cheruiyot and the Ethiopian contingent in Spain. “For me, Vivian is a big rival as she has a strong finishing kick. I am not ruling out Meselech Melkamu as she is another very strong contender. I hope my kick will see me through this time round,” added Masai.

She said the morale in the team is high and they were ready to defend the team titles in Spain. “We are ready to defend the team titles. We are not scared of anyone including Ethiopia.”

Meanwhile, this year’s winners of the individual titles in both senior men and women’s categories at World Cross Country Championships will pocket a cool Sh2.5 million.

The runner-up will take home Sh1.2 million with the third place finisher returning home Sh850,000 richer. The fourth placed finisher will earn Sh595,000 with fifth-placed receiving Sh440,000.

In the team category, the winner will pocket Sh1.7 million with the second-placed team sharing Sh1.3 million. Second runners-up (team) will get Sh1 million with fourth-placed receiving Sh850,000. The fifth team will receive Sh690,000.

The International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) have set aside Sh23.8 million in prize money for the World Cross Country Championships.

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