Chepsaita village which sits on the border of Nandi, Kakamega and Bungoma counties comes alive this morning as Kenya hosts the second edition of the Great Chepsaita Cross Country Run, a World Athletics Cross Country Championships Gold Tour event.
Chepsaita village has hogged the limelight for the better part of this week as it prepares to host more than 10,000 participants in the race, which was elevated from bronze label status in September to a gold label event. It is the second gold-label cross-country event in Kenya, the other one being Sirikwa Classic World Cross Country Gold Tour which is held annually in February.
The high number of participants who have registered for the race, now in its second edition, is a testament to the popularity of athletics in the region. Runners from all corners of the world have been descending on Eldoret before making their way to Chepsaita which is located 52 kilometres away. Eldoret City, which is the headquarters of Uasin Gishu County, is known as the ‘City of Champions.’
More than 10,000 participants will be competing in various categories of the race, with the first event, the patron’s run, starting at 7.15 am.
The great chepsaita
Photo credit: Jared Nyataya | Nation
The Great Chepsaita Cross Country Run Director Barnaba Korir said his team was impressed by the high turnout by local and international athletes, saying organisers have been forced to lock out some of the athletes to comply with set competition rules. A breath-taking sight awaits competitors in today’s races as they tackle the unique course which gives them a scenic view of Mount Elgon from a distance.
Some of the local athletes who will feature in the senior men’s race include Charles Lokir, Allocius Kipchirchir, Fredrick Domongole, Cornelius Tuwei, Japan-based Samwel Chebolei, and Wilberforce Kones.
The 2023 World Athletics Championships 10,000 metres silver medalist, Daniel Simiu Ebenyo, will compete in the men’s 10km race.
Simiu hopes to use cross-country races as part of his build-up ahead of the global track season which starts early next year.
“After missing the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, where I had hoped to represent Kenya in the 10,000m but failed to make the team after falling down during the trials in Oregon, USA, I feel that I still have some unfinished business in track, but I have to start with cross country events,” he said.
Athletics Kenya Central Rift Chairman Abraham Mutai, who is also the chairman of the Local Organizing Committee, said that the event has attracted a great number of participants, making it one of the best-attended races locally.
“When we have such a big event, we have to make sure that the competitors are safe and we have beefed up security around here because we shall have a big number of fans, as well as athletes competing in various categories,” said Mutai.
Foreign and local athletes Beniyam Melak (Ethiopia) from (left), Mathayo Sombi (Tanzania), Hamida Nassoro (Tanzania), Yvonne Jepchirchir (Kenya), Meledes Shimes (Ethiopia), Abdikari Mohammed (Bahrain), Keaton Stansfeld (South Africa), and Phillip Kendau (Coach Tanzania), at Chepkemel in Uasin Gishu County on December 06, 2024, having a feel of the course ahead of The Great Chepsaita Cross Country Run.
Photo credit: Jared Nyataya | Nation
Somali-born Abdikani Mohammed who competes for Bahrain and has been training in the Sululta area in Ethiopia said that an opportunity to compete in the race is a special experience for him.
He hopes to use today’s race as a launching pad in his career as he targets competing in more international races.
Mathayo Sombi Samhenda from Tanzania who will compete in the men’s senior race, said it’s a unique experience for him to compete in Kenya, a country known to produce some of the best athletes in the world.
“I have not seen such a course even back at home, but I came here to run and learn and my target is just to run a good race today. I’m so happy to have met top Kenyan athletes here, and I hope to meet others when we compete,” he said.
“It is a challenging course that we really have to work hard and to do our best in the race to succeed because the altitude is also high compared to where we have been training in Tanzania,” she said.
Athletes and other runners in various categories who registered, for The Great Chepsaita Cross Country Run in Chepkemel, Uasin Gishu County queue to collect their bibs and t-shirts at the venue on December 05, 2024.
Photo credit: Jared Nyataya | Nation
Apart from the prize money for the elite (10km, 8km and 6km) categories whose winners will pocket Sh300,000, Sh200,000 and Sh150,000 respectively, all the winners from the other categories will also be awarded cash prizes.
In terms of registration, 5-7 year-olds registered 1,200 athletes, the 8-10 years (1,800), 11-13 years (1,800), 14-15 years (1,800), Under-20 (1,400), elite athletes (1,600), 46-55 years (600), 56-69 years (400) and 70 years and above registering 200 participants.
The first race which is the patron’s run will start at 7.15 am followed by the teens' race which is the 14-15 years’ girl’s category 4km run going off at 7.30 am.
The boys 14-15 category will be starting at 7.50 am with the final race, which is the men’s 10km elite men, starting at 1 pm.
