NAIROBI, Feb. 14 (Xinhua) -- World Cross Country Champion Geoffrey Kamworor said Thursday that he could not afford to rest on his laurels ahead of Kenya team selections in Eldoret on Feb. 23.
Kenya will name its 24-member team for the World Cross Country in Aarhus, Denmark on March 30.
However, with nobody being assured of a direct ticket, it will go down to the wire on which the best six athletes across the four disciplines will make the cut and travel to Denmark.
Three such athletes giving Kamworor sleepless night include his protege and World Cross Country silver medalist Leonard Barsoton and world Junior champions Rhonex Kipruto and Edward Zakayo.
"It will always be difficult to break through and claim a slot in the Kenya team. The field is chocking with fresh talent, young athletes who are keen to break the glass ceiling and make a name in the senior cadre of the Kenya team," said Kamworor in Nairobi.
Head coach Julius Kirwa said, "It is important to raise the bar, have athletes sweat out to make the team."
Kenya's firm grip at the World Cross Country trophies will face another critical test as the elites from Uganda, Bahrain, the United States and Ethiopia have been benchmarking in Iten to have same training. But that has not bothered Kamworor.
"My training is going on well and the my task ahead is to win the title for the third time," said Kamworor.
As main threat comes from Uganda's Commonwealth Games 5,000m and 10,000m champion Joshua Cheptegei, Kamworor said, "If I make the team, we are going to meet with the likes of Cheptegei and athletes from Ethiopia, who have been doing well in the recent past. Kenya has to run as a team to make sure we win back the title."
