Asbel Kiprop Kiprono (right), Cornelius Kemboi (centre) and Felix Kibet negotiate a tight bend during the Athletics Kenya Betika Elgeyo Marakwet Cross Country senior men’s 10km on January 11, 2025. Kiprop won the race in 27:02.3 with Kemboi finishing second in 27:03.0. The duo are among prominent athletes who have entered the Sirikwa Classic Cross Country that will be held tomorrow at Lobo Village.
Who will be the new Absa Sirikwa Classic World Cross Country Gold Tour men’s 10km champion?
That is the question on everyone’s lips with a new winner certainly guaranteed after the defending champion Daniel Ebenyo Simiu opted not to race and instead concentrate on his preparations for the Seoul Marathon next month.
Looking at the entry list, a titanic battle is expected on Saturday at Lobo Village in Eldoret as the hugely anticipated fourth edition of this World Athletics-sanctioned meet explodes to life.
The men’s senior 10km has attracted red-hot, two-time Discovery Kenya Cross Country champion Cornelius Kemboi, who is also the African Games 5,000m bronze medallist.
Bristling with intent when Nation Sport caught up with him on Thursday Kemboi, still tried to play down expectations saying said that he was looking to work on his endurance ahead of the track season.
“I’m confident that the race we are going to compete in shall be good for my build-up as we start track events. I know Sirikwa will be competitive.”
But in his current form Kemboi had to reveal his hand.
“My target is to finish on the podium,” he said. The top position will certainly be on his mind.
He has a personal best of 27min 40sec in 10km ran in Herzogenaurach, Germany on April 30, 2022
After getting eliminated in the men’s 5,000m semi-finals of the 2023 World Athletics Championships in Budapest, Hungary, Kemboi is looking to make amends at the Tokyo championships from September 13 to 21 but must of course make the Kenya team.
Tomorrow, he clashes with world 5,000m silver medallist Jacob Krop who has been training intensely in Siyoi, West Pokot after jetting back from Japan last month.
Krop however revealed that Sirikwa will be his first cross country event since 2021.
“I don’t know how it will but am looking forward to the competition on Saturday,” said Krop who holds a personal best of 27min 04sec in 10km ran in Valencia in January 15, 2023.
Also on the line up of the men’s senior category is Robert Kiprop who won the Athletics Kenya Cross Country meet in Iten before finishing third at the National Police Service Cross Country Championships. He later placed ninth at the National Cross Country Championships.
“I know the competition shall be tight,” he offered.
Also in the mix are Emmanuel Bett, Asbel Kiprop Kiprono, Amos Kirui, Fredrick Domongole, Stanley Waithaka, Nicholas Kipkorir and Abraham Kibiwott.
The protagonists will be eyeing the juicy top prize of $6,000 (about Sh780,000) with the second placed runner getting $5,000 (Sh650,000) and third placed finisher $4,000 (Sh520,000).
Action will start at 9am with the 2km race for 13-15 year boys and ends with elite men’s race at 3.10pm.
The Sirikwa Classic is the second WA Gold Tour cross country held in Kenya in the world athletics calendar. The first is the Great Chepsaita Cross Country held on December 7.
