World XC Champs Junior Women's Preview - Kipyegon’s title defence set to highlight junior clash

WRITTEN FOR THE IAAF WEBSITE

Only two women have successfully retained their junior crown in the history of the IAAF World Cross Country Championships and on Sunday March 24 in Bydgoszcz, Poland, Kenya’s Faith Chepngetich Kipyegon will attempt to become the third during the 2013 edition of the illustrious event.

Held at the same venue as the 2010 global championship, this now biennial competition will see the 19-year-old defending champion seek to replicate the achievements of her fellow countrywoman Viola Kibiwot, the 2001 and 2002 winner.

Another athlete Kipyegon will be keen to follow in the footsteps of is Ethiopia’s World indoor 1500m champion, Genzebe Dibaba, who enjoyed back-to-back victories in 2008 and 2009 before embarking on a fine senior career.

Kipyegon, the World junior 1500m champion, comfortably won the Kenyan trial and will be joined in Poland by her younger sister, Caroline Chepkoech Kipkirui.

The 18-year-old finished fifth in the World junior 5,000m final in Barcelona last summer and took the bronze medal over 3,000m at the 2011 World Youth Championships.

Such accomplishments from the Kenyan duo are quickly earning the siblings comparisons with their East African counterparts, the Dibaba sisters from Ethiopia – Tirunesh (a double Olympic 10,000m champion), the aforementioned Genzebe and Ejegayehu (the 2004 Olympic 10,000m silver medallist).   

Newcomer Alemitu Haroye will lead Ethiopia’s hopes following an impressive trials win from the 17-year-old, whilst her teammate Buze Diriba, the World junior 5,000m champion, is another set to challenge for a medal.

The 19-year-old finished tenth in the 2011 event in Punta Umbria and was the runner-up in the trial for this championship.

A third Ethiopian, Ruti Aga placed fourth in the trial but will look to find the sort of form which helped her to capture World junior 5,000m silver behind Diriba last summer.

The 19-year-old beat older rivals to win the Brussels leg of the IAAF XC Permit Series back in December and will be joined by Kenya’s 16-year-old Roseline Chepnetich in the fight for the minor medals.

Elsewhere, Britain’s Emelia Gorecka will be hoping to get in the mix following a World junior 3,000m bronze medal last year.

The 19-year-old European cross country silver medallist – and former champion - recently claimed her seventh-consecutive British title and is eager to improve on her best position of fifteenth from the 2011 event.

Nicola Bamford for the IAAF.