NAIROBI, March 18 (Xinhua) -- Athletics Kenya President Jack Tuwei has warned other countries are quickly closing the gap and Kenya must do more if they are to continue their dominance in cross country.
Speaking in Eldoret on Saturday, Tuwei however said the country's production line are still churning out exemplary talent and is certain they will weather the storm.
Ethiopian athletes on Saturday braved up and took the challenge to their Kenyan rivals and managed to wrest one gold medal off Kenya at the Africa Cross Country Championship in Chlef, Algeria.
"It is always a challenge when you are the defending champion because others want to beat you. Our team has shown it has what it takes to fend off the opposition and though we lost one medal, Kenya still emerged the overall champion," said Tuwei.
In 2016 in Cameroon, Kenya won all the medals available, with Ethiopia and Uganda securing just one bronze medal each.
But the rise of Ethiopia in Algeria, winning the junior women's team and the mixed relay, showed that Kenya is losing its firm grip on the sport.
Rising talent Alfred Barkach and world U20 record holder Celliphine Chespol took the senior titles and sent clear message of their intent ahead of the Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast, Australia from April 4-15.
Barkach, who improved from 36th in last year's Kenyan nationals to second this February, beat Julius Kogo and Uganda's Thomas Akeyo in a sprint finish as all three were given the same time of 30:47 for the 10km.
Milcah Chemos, Kenya's athletes representative said she is proud of the performance despite Ethiopia creeping in on the medal podium.
"I am always proud of our Kenyan athletes. They never disappoint, even when the obstacles are many we still conquer the world," said Chemos.
Ethiopian Enyew Mekonnen was next in 31:01 and then Kenya's Emmanuel Bor, who ran 31:14 to seal Kenyan team gold. Uganda's Philip Kipyeko, who was runner-up last year, was sixth in 31:19.
Chespol, last year's world cross junior bronze medallist, took the tape in the 10km in 35:10 by a margin of three seconds despite miscounting the laps and momentarily stopping one too early.
Margaret Chelimo was second as Ethiopia's Yeshi Kalayu prevented a Kenyan podium sweep in clocking 35:26.
Stacy Ndiwa (35:27) and Sandra Chebet (35:47) were next to complete the Kenyan team win. Ethiopians Girmawit Gebru (20:40) and Tsige Selama (20:54) led the junior women's 6km as Kenya's Hellen Ekale (20:55) was third.
Kenya's Ronex Kipruto took the junior men's 8km in 25:01, five seconds clear of compatriot Stanley Waithaka.
Ethiopia's Solomon Berihu was third in 25:08 as Kenya won both junior team titles. However, Ethiopia easily won the mixed relay, clocking 23:52 to beat Kenya (24:15) and Morocco (25:07). Enditem
