Rwanda Athletics Federation (RAF) will make the final selection for the 2017 IAAF World Cross Country Championships early next month—the event is scheduled for March 26 in Uganda’s capital Kampala.

RAF will send a contingent of athletes to Kampala; the fourth African city to host the competition after Guiyang of China passed on the baton in 2015.

RAF technical director, John Peter Ndacyayisenga, confirmed the news revealing that the first competition was organized last month while the second and final selection will be made in February.

Salome Nyirarukundo, who is fresh from winning a bronze medal at the 27th edition of Silvesterlauf on the New Year’s Eve in South Western German City of Trier, will lead the women’s team.

During the last edition in the Chinese city of Guiyang, Rwanda was represented by four athletes, namely; Pontien Ntawuyirushintege, Jean Marie Uwajeneza, Felicien Muhitira and Eric Sebahire.

They competed in the senior men category and finished in 11th place with Ethiopia winning the team gold.

The winner of the 2017 IAAF World Cross Country Championships Kampala will pocket $30,000 (approximately Rwf25 million).

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