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World champion fails to make Kenyan cross country team
15/02/2015
NAIROBI (Reuters) - Japhet Korir will not be able to defend his world title in China after slumping to 48th place in Kenya's cross-country championships on Saturday.
Korir, the youngest-ever athlete to lift the world crown in Poland two years ago, failed to qualify for the powerful Kenyan team for next month's championships in Guiyangafter struggling in the 12-km event.
"I developed a stitch during the fourth lap and slowed down," the 21-year-old told Reuters after the competition was won by road racer Bedan Karoki.
Karoki, who also won the 2013 national trials, clocked a time of 35 minutes 13.8 seconds.
"I train in Japan and hope the weather in China will favour me," he said.
World champion Emily Chebet finished 15th in the 8-km women's race but was selected for the team as a wildcard.
Faith Chepngetich, the world junior champion, triumphed in the women's race.
Kenya's teams for the world championships:
Men: Bedan Karoki, Geoffrey Kipsang, Leonard Barsoton, Moses Mukono, Philip Langat, Joseph Kitur
Women: Faith Chepngetich, Agnes Jebet, Janet Kisa, Irene Chebet, Alice Aprot, Emily Chebet.
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