Angelline Nyiransabimana is among 27 foreign athletes, who will compete in the Iaaf Permit/KCB National Cross-Country Championships due on Saturday at Ngong Racecourse in Nairobi in Kenya.

Nyiransabimana leads a 12-strong Rwandan field in the hunt for glory at the one-day event.

According to officials in the local athletics federation (Raf), the athletes will be using championship to put them in shape for the Iaaf World Cross Country Championship due in Jordan on March 28.

"This event will help our athletes to gain exposure ahead of our local cross country championship due next month,” said Appolinaire Munyangoga, Raf Secretary General
Nyiransabimana, 19 has spent some time training at Eldoret high altitude training camp.

World Junior Championships 3,000 meters steeplechase silver medalist Benjamin Kiplagat is among the 11 Ugandan athletes set for the event.

Other countries competing in the championship are Qatar, Botswana Djibouti, Sri Lanka, Uganda and Malawi all with two runners each.

Ugandan athletes have lately been giving stiff competition to Kenya but they will need to be at their best to win on Saturday.

Other foreigners in the race are Qatar’s Saif Saeed Shaheen who has shaken off a hamstring injury and has raced in several European meetings.

Shaheen is training at Kaptagat and Eldoret together with compatriot Isaac Ismael Rashid.

The Rwanda team has: Nyiransabimana, Lamberte Nyabamikazi, JMV Uwajeneza, Anicet Kanyabugoyi, Eric Mpazimpaka, Epiphanie Nyirabarame, Felix Ntirenganya, Genessis Nyirahabimana, Claudette Mukasakindi, Cyriaque Ndayikengurikiye, Alex Ninzeyimana, Adeline Musabyeyezu and Pelagie Musengimana.

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