One year on from smashing the Campaccio course record, world 5000m champion Hellen Obiri will defend her title at the IAAF Cross Country Permit meeting in San Giorgio su Legnano on January 6.
The Olympic 5000m silver medallist won the 2017 edition of the race by four seconds from fellow Kenyan Faith Kipyegon, the world and Olympic 1500m champion. It marked the first of many victories for Obiri in 2017 as the 28-year-old went on to win the world and IAAF Diamond League titles over 5000m.
In what looks set to be a high-quality race, Obiri will take on compatriot and world 10,000m bronze medallist and 2015 world cross-country champion Agnes Tirop, two-time world U20 cross-country champion Letesenbet Gidey of Ethiopia, and another Kenyan, world cross-country bronze medallist, Lilian Kasait.
USA’s Paul Chelimo leads the men’s field. The Olympic 5000m silver medallist will line up alongside Norway’s Sondre Nordstadt Moen, who recently broke the European marathon record with 2:05:48, and Italy’s 2014 European marathon champion Daniele Meucci.