The four-man Rwandan athletes arrived in Punta Umbria yesterday afternoon hoping to put on a spirited performance in today’s the World Cross Country Championship.

The quartet has joined 500 other runners, who have been drawn from 55 countries that are registered for today’s championship.

The Rwandan athletes, who missed the past two editions in Poland and Jordan, must do their best to strengthen their grip so as to emulate neighbors Kenya, Ethiopia and Uganda who have dominated the championship in recent years.

Eric Sebahire, Claudette Mukasakindi, Angelline Nyirabarame and Gervais Hakizimana are expected to face stiff challenge from top athletes from Kenya, Uganda, Ethiopia, Spain, Portugal, USA, Australia, Bahrain, Qatar, Eritrea, Great Britain, Morocco and Japan in their quest to win silverware.

Meanwhile, today’s global event will have a new champion crowned in the senior men’s category after previous Kenyan winner Joseph Ebuya was not named in the start line.

Other athletes that are expected to spice up the men’s senior race include Uganda’s bronze medalist Moses Kipsiro, Eritrean silver medalist Teklemariam Medhin.

In the women’s 8km race, it will be the return of Cheruiyot, the world 5,000m championtogether with Kibet, the silver medallist in Berlin and Priscah Jepleting.

Before the event starts, a minute of silence will be observed to honour the victims of the Japanese earthquake and Tsunami which hit the country last week.

Ends