Uganda’s Joshua Cheptegei and Kenya’s Geoffrey Kamworor will battle each other on Saturday, February 18, at World Athletics Cross Country Championships Bathurst 23.
The men's title has been shared between the two athletes in the past three events.
Speaking ahead of the race, Cheptagei and Kamworor recalled their past cross-country triumphs.
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Cheptagei relieved the 2017 World Cross Country Championships, which was held in Uganda.
In that race, Cheptegei had led the race before he was hit by fatigue finishing the race at 30 as Kamworor won.
“Sometimes you have to accept what life throws at you and then learn from it. I can proudly say that I am a better athlete because of the incident in 2017," Cheptegei stated.
The Ugandan noted that the occasion taught me many lessons about his life and career.
Kamworor's special moment was the 2011 World Cross Country Championship edition.
“The first major title I won was the U20 title at the 2011 World Cross Country Championships. That motivated me so much, and ever since then I have loved cross country,” Kamworor stated.
Also on the lineup is Uganda’s Jacob Kiplimo, the 2019 silver medalist.
“It’s exciting that the people who shared the podium in 2019 are all back here. I know it’s going to be mind-blowing and will be something that will stay in our hearts and minds for a long time,” Cheptegei added.
Kamworor also has set his eyes on the senior team title, which he has never won despite winning two individual senior titles and one U20 title.
The World Athletics Cross Country Championships Bathurst 23 is scheduled to take place on Saturday, February 18.
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