Stranded Masai to miss Belfast race

World junior champion Linet Masai will miss tomorrow’s Belfast International Cross Country after failing to get a flight from riot-torn Kenya.

The 18-year-old star should originally have left last Monday, but with murders and heavy rioting heavy in the Iten area where she lives, that was not possible.

Masai made one final attempt to fly from Eldoret to Nairobi this morning, but with flights heavily overbooked, was unsuccessful in obtaining a seat.

“She did not get the flight,” said her London-based agent Ricky Simms. “People had been queuing all night and Linet did not even get inside the terminal.

“The airport only uses 25-seater planes and yesterday there was a backlog of almost 800 passengers trying to escape the troubles.”

Simms added: “Priority is being given to government and army personnel, but she returned at 3am today hoping to catch a flight, but was unsuccessful.

“Kenyan Airways had promised to schedule a bigger plane to clear the backlog and if she had got a seat, arrangements were in hand for an onward flight to London then Belfast.”

Masai’s presence would have been welcomed by Stephanie Twell, the first junior woman to win two European junior crowns following her latest success last month in Toro.

Twell, 17, is being compared to Paula Radcliffe and certainly their confrontation would have offered a very useful comparison of her ability against global opposition.

Now Twell will be aiming to unseat former European senior champion Hayley Yelling and another consistent British performer Kathy Butler, while Maria McCambridge heading Ireland’s challenge in the 5.6km race.

Patrick Makau Musyoki, fortunate not to be currently residing in Kenya, is hoping his good luck will continue with a victory in tomorrow’s race.

Makau Musyoki whilst many other Kenyan athletes have been unable to leave a country stricken by murders and riots following the recent government elections, has been operating from a European base.

The 22-year-old IAAF World Road Running Championships half-marathon silver medallist and world’s third fastest-ever half marathoner, is aiming to improve on his third placing at Stormont Castle last January.

It will not be an easy task with Moses Kipsiro defending his title. Indeed, Uganda’s world 5000 metres bronze returns for the nine kilometres after opening his 2008 season in brilliant fashion.

Whilst starting as favourite he will be wary of not just Makau Musyoki but another Kenyan, Barnabas Kosgei – the race winner two years ago, who is currently based in Teddington .