2012 Olympic Marathon Champion Stephen Kiprotich Eyes Winning the IAAF World Cross Country Championships at Home

By Adam Kopet, DyeStat Editor

The world will come to Uganda on March 26 for the IAAF World Cross Country Championships. The race in Kampala will feature a strong home team, including 2012 Olympic marathon champion Stephen Kiprotich.

Kiprotich was a surprise winner in London, but he went on to repeat the performance at the 2013 IAAF World Championships in Moscow, Russia.

With the World Cross Country Championships coming to Uganda, Kiprotich has switched focus away from the roads, according to Stanley Magut of the Star.

"Personally, I am very excited and happy that the global event will be happening at home," Kiprotich said. "Having unsuccessfully competed in cross country before, I am targeting a win this time round."

Kiprotich last competed in the World Cross Country Championships in 2011, when he finished sixth.

In Kampala, Kiprotich will face his Kenyan training partner and defending World Cross Country champion, Geoffrey Kamworor. They train together at the Global Sports Communications in Kaptagat, Kenya.

Kiprotich's marathon best of 2:06:33 came in his win at the 2015 Tokyo Marathon.