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A team of Kenyan athletics stars dubbed ‘Team Cheruiyot’ will take on the world-famous Ingebrigtsen brothers from Norway in a virtual race called Maurie Plant Memorial Race on June 11.
Team Cheruiyot, made of metric mile stars Timothy Cheruiyot and Elijah Manang'oi, and 800 metres runner Edwin Meli, will take on Team Ingebrigtsen made up of Norwegian brothers of Jakob, Henrick and Filip in the 2,000m race.
The Kenyans will take part in the virtual race from Nyayo National Stadium in Nairobi while the Ingebrigtsens will be at Bislett Stadium in Oslo, Norway.
Cabinet Secretary for Sports Amina Mohammed disclosed Tuesday that the virtual race that pits Kenya against Norway, will have an appearance fee.
“The race will be held simultaneously at the two cities with the two teams not getting to meet each other owing to the Covid-19 pandemic,” Amina said on Tuesday while unveiling Team Cheruiyot at the Nyayo National Stadium.
Amina said each side will have five athletes - three finishers and two pacesetters.
Manang’oi, the 2017 World 1,500m, champion who is also the reigning African champion over the distance, said that even though altitude could play a big role in the outcome of the race, they have what it takes to conquer the Norwegian brothers just like they have done in the past.
“The race will be tricky, considering the difference in altitude between the two cities but we have always been the best, we shall beat the Norwegians,” Manang'oi, who has recovered from a hamstring injury, said on Tuesday at Nyayo Stadium. He said the race will be a good build-up to the 2020 Diamond League and the World Athletics Continental Tour that have been rescheduled to start in August this year.
Manang'oi, fondly known as the “Lion”, has not competed since winning the national 1,500m title on August 22 at Nyayo National Stadium after an injury on his right leg recurred in training. He failed to defend his world title, and his training and teammate from Rongai Athletics Club, Cheruiyot went on to clinch gold in 2019 World Championships in Doha.
Coach Ben Ouma said they will overlook details regarding altitude and lack of preparedness to give the athletics world a good race.
Jakob, the European 1,500m and 5,000m champion, his brother Henrik and Filip form Team Ingebrigtsen that is currently training in Norway. The race will be held in memory of Australian athletics star Maurie Plant.
