Sheila Jebet is the only Kenyan athlete taking part in this year's Cardiff Cross Challenge.
Kenya's Sheila Jebet and Charity Cherop (Uganda) headline the women’s start list for the Cardiff Cross Challenge Cross Country Tour set to take place on Saturday, November 9.
The senior women’s race boasts an impressive international field and perhaps offers more depth in the domestic line-up. Jebet finished fourth in the U20 race at the World Cross Country Championships and fifth in the 5000m at the World U20 Championships this year.
08:30 - 08.11.2024
Keneth Kiprop to defend Cross Challenge title in clash with Niels Laros and Dan Kibet in Cardiff
The Ugandan is looking forward to winning back to back titles in the Welsh capital
Cherop on the other hand claimed bronze in that world U20 5000m final in Peru. Ethiopia’s Tsige Teshome was the 1500m silver medallist at the Ethiopian U20 Championships, earning her a place at the World U20 Championships.
Danish athlete Sofia Thogersen is a two-time European U20 Championships silver medallist on the track. She was runner-up in the U20 race at last year’s European Cross Country Championships, a month after finishing seventh in Cardiff and returns to her familiar territory.
Just like in the men’s race, there will be a strong Dutch presence, this time in the shape of five-time national steeplechase champion Veerle Bakker, national 1500m bronze medallist Femke Rosbergen and Emmy van den Berg, who was ninth in the European Cross Country Championships U23 race.
Amelia Quirk was the runner-up in Cardiff in 2022 and returns, joined by her British compatriot Izzy Fry, who won gold at the 2022 World Universities Cross Country Championships. Fry was also the sixth-place finisher in Cardiff 12 months ago.
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07:17 - 28.10.2024
Kenya's Grace Nawowuna bags silver as Daisy Jepkemei & Rodrigue Kwizera triumph in Atapuerca
During the final lap Nawowuna attempted to move into the lead but it was short-lived.
The 2014 European cross country champion Gemma Steel finished second here in 2013 and will be in action alongside Charlotte Alexander, Lauren Church, Holly Dixon, Amy Griffiths and 2022 English National cross country champion Jess Gibbon.
Sarah Astin and Kate Axford showed current form steering their Belgrave team to the English Cross Country Relays title last weekend and added further strength to the women’s field.
Home favourite Cari Hughes has chalked up personal bests at 1500m, 3000m and 5000m on the track this season, and is no stranger to the Cardiff Cross Challenge having finished third in the U20 race in 2018.
The age group races on Saturday are particularly strong in the U20 women’s race where young British talent Innes FitzGerald is unlikely to be troubled having won double gold at last year’s European Cross Country Championships.
She claimed the individual title in the U20 race and helped her team to victory. FitzGerald is joined here by European U18 silver medallist over 1500m, Isla McGowan.
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