RWANDA’S FIVE-MAN team battles against a strong field of elite athletes from across the world for the cash prizes in the 40th IAAF World cross country championship on Sunday in Bydgoszcz, Poland.Robert Kajuga is leading the Rwandan team that includes; Cyriaque Ndayikengurikiye, Felix Ntirenganya, Eric Sebahire and Jean Baptist Simukeka.Kajuga told Sunday Sport before the team’s departure on Thursday, “We believe that we can do well in Poland. Apart from eyeing a medal, we also want to finish in better positions as a team such that we can collect some money on stake.”“Everything possible and all we have to do is to stay close with the Kenyans and the Ethiopians. I have mastered their tricks and I plan will attempt to try something out on Sunday,” added Kajuga.No less than $280, 000 in prize money will be paid out by the international athletics federation to the leading runners in the two senior races. The first prize of $30, 000 will be warded to each individual winner of the men’s and women’s senior races, with money available down to sixth place.In total, $140, 000 is on offer for individual prizes.In the team contest in both senior races, there is another prize pool of $140, 000. This is going to be distributed with $20, 000 to the first team home in each race, descending to sixth place in both races where the pay out by the IAAF is $4000.Last year, Rwanda missed out on the world event due to visa hitches. Two years ago, Gervais Hakizimana braved the winter and muddy terrain in Punta Umbria, Spain, to emerge as the best performing runner after finishing 33rd in the Men’s 12km during the IAAF 39th World Cross Country Championship edition.
