hopes to win back to back titles when he lines up alongside Dutch star Niels Laros, Dan Kibet and Celestin Ndikumana at the Cardiff Cross Challenge on November 9.
Kiprop powered to victory in 2023, crossing the finish line in 28:32 but faces a big challenge in the Welsh capital from the aforementioned trio.
Uganda’s overcame the 2023 winner from Cardiff, his compatriot Kiprop, at the Cross Internacional Zornotza where they finished third and fifth respectively in October.
The world indoor mile record-holder took one second off the world record set by Jacob Kiplimo in Lisbon three years ago
Kibet also proved his cross country pedigree by finishing 11th at the in Belgrade in March, while 19-year-old Kiprop claimed 5000m bronze at the World U20 Championships in Lima in August and will be looking to retain his title in Cardiff.
The 2023 Principality Cardiff Half Marathon winner Kenya’s was the runner-up last time and returns looking for victory in 2024. The 2023 winner in Zornotza, Burundi’s Ndikumana, and his compatriot Emile Hafashimana warmed up for this race in San Sebastian last weekend, finishing in third and fifth place.
Agnes Ngetich was in a class of her own in her half marathon debut in Valencia as Yomif Kejelcha surprised Kenyans to take the win in a new world record, shattering the previous record by Jacob Kiplimo.
Steeplechaser Younes Kniya of Morocco will also be in action. They will go up against Laros of the Netherlands, silver medallist in the U20 race at the European Cross Country Championships in Brussels last December. More recently, the 19-year-old finished sixth in the 1500m final at the Paris Olympics, setting a European U20 record of 3:29.54.
Joining the world U20 1000m record-holder are his compatriots Robin van Riel, Juan Zijderlaan, Rick van Riel, Jesse Fokkenrood and Stefan Nillessen, who finished ninth in the Olympic final. Irish half marathon record-holder Efrem Gidey began his cross country season in Atapuerca and will also line up in Cardiff.
Leading domestic hopefuls include Zak Mahamed, who finished fourth at last year’s event, and the British indoor 3000m silver medallist Charles Wheeler, joined by his twin brother George. Road running specialist Jake Smith and Welsh athletes Dafydd Jones and James Heneghan will also be likely to feature in the battle of the top British athletes.