Kenya's Karoki, Chepngetich warm up for worlds in Nairobi

Nairobi (AFP) - Kenya's Bedan Karoki and Faith Chepngetich were in fine form ahead of next month's World Cross Country Championships in China with easy victories in the Nairobi IAAF meet on Saturday.

Chepngetich, the two-time world junior and Commonwealth 1500m champion, blew away the women's field to win the 8km race in 26min 23.4sec to stake a claim for a place in the senior team for the March 28 world championships in Guiyang, China.

"I thank God for enabling me to win this race under such hot and humid conditions. The onus is on me now to go to China and win my first world senior title," the 21-year-old said after the race.

"I believe if I train hard with my coach John Ngeno, as I did for this event, I will go to China well assured of making a successful transition from the juniors to the seniors."

Agnes Jebet, who exchanged the lead with Chepngetich twice over the 4-lap course, finished a close second in 26:24.6. Janet Kisa was a distant third in 26:30.0

Two-time world senior champion Emily Chebet faded away to finish 14th but she was awarded a wild card to defend her title in Guiyang.

Karoki successfully defended his men's title by sprinting away from a three-man leading pack on the home straight and relegated world half marathon champion Geoffrey Kipsang Kamworor into second place.

Karoki finished a full five seconds ahead of Kamworor and announced he was ready to run his last cross country in Guiyang before switching to the marathon after August's world track and field championships in Beijing.

"Today's race was very tough I didn't think I would be able to win against such strong opposition. However I hope I will maintain my good form for the world championship with the hope of coming back home with the gold medal," said Karoki.

Karoki and Chepngetich will lead the 25-member national team named by the Athletics Kenya (AK) selectors to defend the world team title in Guiyang.

The Kenya team is:

Men

12km: Bedan Karoki, Geoffrey Kipsang, Leonard Barsoton, Moses Mukono, Philip Lagat, Joseph Kiptum

8km: Dominic Kiptarus, John Lagat, Alfred Ngeno, Rodgers Chumo, Geoffrey Korir, Moses Koech

Women

8km: Faith Chepngetich, Agnes Jebet, Janeth Kisa, Alice Aprot, Stacy Ndiwa, Emily Chebet

6km: Rosefline Chepngetich, Winnie Koima, Daisy Jepkemei, Winfred Mbithe, Joyline Cherotich, Gladys Koech, Lilian Kasait.