Kamworor to compete in Kenya's world cross trials

Geoffrey Kamworor of Kenya will not compete in any road races to save his feet from the hard tarmac and focus on winning the elusive men's 10,000 metres title at the London World Championships in August.

Kamworor has delayed his training since the Rio Olympic Games in August last year when he finished a distant 11th in the 10,000 metres final won by his rival Mo Farah of England, reports Xinhua news agency.

A bout of pneumonia and a dislocated left arm in a road accident in October 2016 took the wind out of his sails but the 25-year-old has been going through rehabilitation and is happy to announce he has fully recovered and will be ready to lay down his marker at the Kenya trials for the World Cross Country Championships this weekend in Nairobi.

"It is not my intention to compete in World cross in Kampala (March 26). All I want to do is defend my crown and see where I rank in terms of fitness," he said.

Kamworor has ruled out defending the crown he won in Guiyang, China, two years ago but will be keen to provide moral support for the Kenya team that will be going to Kampala for the next edition of the World Cross Country Championships on March 26.

The sickness and injuries saw Kamworor miss out on two road races early in February and December, but he has since trained for the World Championships in August.

"I had just returned to training after an illness when the accident occurred and I had to keep off training for two months," Kamworor said.

"I feel much better now and want to get my body back in competition mood and shake off any rust."

"My dream is to win the 10,000m title from Farah, especially at his home turf. It will hurt him most," he added.

"What I want to do is put behind the Rio Olympic experience and try to secure my career a new meaning."

--IANS

ajb/vt