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Battle royale: Ugandan, Kenyan athletes face off at Sirikwa Classic
World Cross Country Elite Women Champion, Agnes Ng'etich and World Cross Country Bronze Medalist Simiu Ebenyo, during the Absa Sirikwa Classic World Cross Country Tour Media Launch, held at Lobo Village in Kapseret, Eldoret City of Uasin Gishu County on January 20, 2026.
Fresh from the World Cross Country Championships, a host of Ugandan athletes are bringing the battle to the Kenyans’ doorstep, hoping to outdo them at the Sirikwa Classic Cross Country Championships on Valentine’s Day.
Women’s under-20 team gold medallists Felister Chekwemoi and Peace Cherop, and men’s under-20 team silver medallist Dan Kipyeko, will be aiming to secure maiden victories for Uganda in their respective categories at the scenic Lobo village in Eldoret.
Chekwemoi finished ninth and Cherop tenth, behind compatriots Charity Cherop (who won bronze) and Bentalin Yeko (who came seventh) to secure the team title at the World Cross Country Championships on January 10 in Florida, USA.
Ethiopia’s Marta Alemayo retained the women’s under-20 title, while compatriot Wosane Asefa took silver. However, the country missed out on the team title after only presenting two athletes, as four others were locked out. Kenya secured silver.
Kipyeko also finished 10th in the men’s under-20 category, helping Uganda secure a silver team medal alongside compatriots Abraham Cherotich (fifth), Daniel Chelogoi (seventh), and Solomon Andiema (ninth).
Meanwhile, Kenya’s Frankline Kibet led his fellow countrymen Emmanuel Kiprono, Andrew Alamisi and Andrew Kiptoo to a 1–4 sweep and team gold.
Also representing Uganda are Emmanuel Kibet and Martha Chemutai, who competed in the senior races at the World Cross Country Championships. The other Ugandans are Solomon Chemayek, Domenic Krop and Scalet Chemutai.
World cross country champion, 25-year-old Agnes Ng’etich and world cross country bronze medallist Daniel Simiu will be defending their titles in this year’s edition of the championship, which has been designed to cater for all age groups and encourage talent search and development.
Kenya's Agnes Jebet Ngetich after winning the senior women's race in 31:28 during the World Athletics Cross Country Championships in Florida, USA on January 10.
“As much as we want to focus on the athletes, we must have systems in place to produce athletes for posterity and sustainability. We want to secure our position in the sport,” said race director Barnaba Korir, adding that the race has attracted athletes from Africa and Europe.
This year’s Sirikwa Classic will feature four main categories: kids’ races for 5–8 year olds, 9–12 year olds, and 13–15 year olds, for both boys and girls; an Under-20 race; a 2 km loop race; and elite 10 km races for men and women.
The prize money exceeds the minimum thresholds set by World Athletics for gold label events. Elite winners will receive $6,000 (Sh773,700), while Under-20 winners will receive $1,250 (Sh162,000).
Winners of the 2 km loop race will receive $2,000 (Sh258,034).
The event has received a major boost from title sponsors Absa Bank Kenya, who have invested Sh8 million in the competition. Korir expressed gratitude to all the event’s supporters.
Technical director Ibrahim Hussein confirmed that the course remains unchanged from last year.
Daniel Simiu crosses the finish line to win the senior men's 10km race during the 4th edition of Sirikwa Classic World Cross Country Tour at Lobo Village in Kapseret, Uasin Gishu County on February 22, 2025.
“The course is unchanged. We will start from the same place as last year,” he confirmed.
The Sirikwa Cross Country Classic is an annual cross-country running race. It is a Gold Standard Meeting in the World Athletics Cross Country Tour, attracting large crowds and top runners.
The first edition was held in 2022 and was named the Agnes Tirop Memorial Cross Country. In 2023, it assumed the current name, referencing an Iron Age tribe from the region. The championship is held in Lobo village.
Last year, and in a race that lived up to the hype, Ng’etich produced a convincing victory while Simiu took the men’s title, timing 32:42 and 29:57, respectively.
The senior women’s race had been billed as a showdown between three-time Olympic 1500m champion Faith Kipyegon and Ng’etich, the world record-holder over 10km on the roads, before the latter emerged victorious.
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