Kenyans Look to Dominate

By Scott Bush

In 2014, at the Bupa Great Edinburgh Cross Country Meet, Garrett Heath pulled off the biggest of early-season upsets, as he outkicked the field in the International Men's 4k to take home top prize. Heath used a furious drive to the finish to outlast two-time World Champion Asbel Kiprop, as well as a handful of other distance stars who owned far superior track credentials. While Heath looks to repeat on Saturday in Edinburgh, Scotland, he'll have a much tougher task this time around. 

Event organizers assembled one of the strongest men's 4k fields in recent memory. Fellow American Bernard Lagat enters the competition looking to make some history. Lagat turned 40 on December 12, which means his race Saturday is the first time he's raced since passing the magical masters barrier. He'll be facing competition half his age, while proving he's far from being done taking on the world's best. 

Kiprop enters the fray once again. After a solid 2014 track season, which saw him run a world #3 1,500m mark, he seeks for an even bigger year ahead, focusing in on a third World Championship title. He's joined by countryman Silas Kiplagat, who finished world #1 over the 1,500m distance with his 3:27.64 best. While both men push themselves over a much farther distance than they are used to, both have the stamina to challenge for the win.

They are joined by a handful of other Kenyans, all of whom own superstar status. The top steeplechase runner in the world in 2014, Jairus Birech, eyes a quick start to his 2015 racing season. Birech ran four of the top five steeple times last year and uses Saturday's competition to test his fitness. He's joined by reigning World Cross Country Champion Japhet Korir, who became the youngest world cross champ in history back in 2013 (he was 19 at the time). 

5,000m track standouts Thomas Longosiwa, Edwin Soi and Augustine Choge look to make their mark in Scotland, too. Longosiwa and Soi ranked world #2 and #4 over the 5,000m distance in 2014, as two of only four men to crack the 13-minute barrier with their 12:56.16 and 12:59.82 efforts. Choge is an experienced veteran who didn't necessarily have the same success last season as his countrymen, but could very well earn the victory. 

Not to be overlooked, World Junior 5,000m Champion Yomif Kejelcha of Ethiopia looks to make his mark. The 18-year old ran a 7:36.28 best over 3,000m last year in Ostrava, where he beat both Nick Willis and Bernard Lagat, which left him with a world #4 ranking in the event. His 5,000m best is far off some of the other standouts in Saturday's competition, but Kejelcha is a star on the rise and could very well be a force in every race he runs in 2015.