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NAIROBI, Jan. 13 (Xinhua) -- Olympian steeplechase champion Conseslus Kipruto of Kenya will be the man to beat during the Antrim International Cross Country, an IAAF Cross Country Permit event in Northern Ireland on Saturday.
In the women race, Kenya has a strong challenger in Caroline Kipkirui, who is a former African champion and a world top-20 runner over 10,000m. Kipkirui will face off against Ethiopian Birtukan Adamu who was third in Antrim two years ago.
Kenyan Kipruto, who took the Olympic 3000m steeplechase title and lifted the IAAF Diamond League trophy in the event last season, will be making a rare appearance on the cross-country circuit this weekend.
"I have my eyes focused on world cross country in Kampala and this events help in strengthening me up and also offer chance to see how I rank with the rivals," he said.
"I know there is still the Kenyan trials in February, but I have to say making it to Kampala for world cross will be important for me before going to London for World Championships," said Kipruto.
A quality field is expected for the eight-kilometre event, which also includes Morocco's Soufiane El Bakkali who also lined up alongside Kipruto in Rio, finishing fourth in that event.
More recently the 21-year-old finished third over 9.4km at the Cross le Maine Libre in Allonnes, France in late November and third over 8km at the Moroccan Championships in December.
Britain's Andy Vernon, a regular in Greenmount, and Bahrain's Abraham Cheroben, who was a finalist in the 10,000m in Rio will also be taking part.
Vernon, who also contested the 10,000m at last Olympics, was a part of the victorious British and Northern Ireland team at last month's European Championships in Chia, Italy, with his fifth place finish behind teammates Callum Hawkins and Andrew Butchart ensuring victory over Spain.
Vernon will take part in the Antrim International for the fifth time this weekend, with his most successful finish earning him a runner-up spot in 2010, in a race won by Kenya's Mike Kegen.
Fellow Briton Olympian Derek Hawkins, older brother of Callum, will also take part, in what are likely to be snowy conditions.
The 27-year-old struggled with injury problems in Rio, after having run the London Marathon in under 2:13 last April.
Twice winner at the IAAF Antrim International Cross Country, Fionnuala McCormack makes a return to Greenmount this weekend, in what is a strong field for the women's race on the 5.6-kilometre course.
The former double European champion and Olympic marathon runner comes into the race off the back of an impressive second place finish at the Great Edinburgh Cross last weekend. Enditem
