During the 2013 World cross country championships, Japhet Korir shocked pundits and fans by beating Ethiopia’s Imane Merga to become world champion. In the process, Korir became the youngest ever world cross country champion at 19.

Korir was back in fine form on Saturday January 4th when he won the Antrim IAAF International Cross Country held in Northern Ireland.

In winning the race, Korir outran Ugandan Thomas Ayeko and fellow Kenyan Emmanuel Bett. Korir took victory in 28 minutes and 40 seconds as the leading trio broke clear of the pack before halfway. The race was held in the muddy 10km Greenmount course in cold conditions. The win is good news for Korir’s fans as he had missed most of the 2013 season due to illness.

Korir will next race in thethe Campaccio Cross Country on January 6. It will be a rematch with Imane Merga.