The Great Chepsaita Cross Country Run held on Saturday attracted athletes of all ages, but it is those in the senior categories who stole the show.
The World Athletics Championships Cross Country Gold Tour event brought the sleepy Chepkemel village in Turbo Constituency, Uasin Gishu County, to life as more than 10,000 participants turned up for the race.
Competition was tough, especially in senior men and women’s 10 kilometres categories, where winners went home Sh300,000 richer.
Although actual races started at around 8am, fans started streaming to the venue from as early as 4am, and they were rewarded with awe-inspiring performances. Unlike other international races that have been held locally, the gold label event attracted athletes of all ages, both in amateur and professional ranks.
Deputy President Kithure Kindiki who was the chief guest watched with joy as runners, some in their 70s, 80s and 90s competed in their categories.
A competitor in the women’s 500m race for the athletes aged between 46 and 55 years during the Great Chepsaita Cross Country Run at Chepkemel in Turbo Constituency, Uasin Gishu County on December 07, 2024.
Photo credit: Jared Nyataya | Nation Media Group
“The main objective of this race was to help nurture talent among the youth, and to encourage them to value education,” Mr Kindiki said.
A majority of the elderly participants said the race offered them an opportunity to meet their age mates and to interact and socialise while also competing.
“I am very happy that today I got an opportunity to interact and compete with my age mates. I feel much younger than I came here,” 75-year-old Ernest Kogo who competed in the category of athletes aged 75 and above, said.
The father of nine who is grandfather to many said that he has loved athletics since his teenage years, and running on such occasions makes him feel younger.
“As a young man, I used to compete in the 1,500 metres race, which was my favourite,” Kogo said.
He said that although he was confident of finishing the race, he did not expect to finish second in his category.
“I expected to perform well, especially being among the first 10, but all in all I am happy,” Kogo, a resident of Chepsaita, said.
Robert Kibet, 62, who won in the category of male athletes aged between 56 and 69, said the race rekindled his childhood memories when he was a youth participating in 800m and 1500m races.
“I have been training with great expectation. I have been hoping to see this day not to win, but just to start and finish the race,” the father of six said moments after he was crowned winner of men’s 56-69 years 1km race.
Joshua Kipchumba, a 56-year-old participant, who finished second in the category, said: “This in unique race that values elderly people like me. I am very happy to have been here,” said Kipchumba.
Competitors in the men’s 500m race for the athletes aged above 70 years during the Great Chepsaita Cross Country Run at Chepkemel in Turbo Constituency, Uasin Gishu County on December 07, 2024.
Photo credit: Jared Nyataya | Nation Media Group
Francis Bwire, 85, who is from Moi’s Bridge, finished third in the veterans’ race. He has been participating in similar events since 2010, and ran the Ndalat Gaa Cross Country in Eldoret between 2012 and 2019. But it was his first time at the Great Chepsaita Cross Country Run.
“It is my first time to run in this race. I have participated in Ndalat Gaa Cross Country race, and Ziwa Marathon in Eldoret between 2012 and 2019.I am happy to have finished third here,” he said.
Elderly women were not left behind either. More than 300 elderly women aged between 50 and 84 participated in the event. Catherine Jeptoo, 72 was crowned winner of the elderly women’s 500m race.
“I felt good running here. The race gave me an opportunity to relive my youth. I am very happy to have won this race,” said Jeptoo. She thanked organisers of the race for having a category for the elderly, who are almost always forgotten.
“I participated in this race just to keep fit but I am happy to have been the winner,” said Jeptoo. Roseline Ruto, 70, came second, followed by Hellen Rotich.
James Ndaua won in the category for men aged between 70 and 74, followed closely by Julius Kiptanui (71) while George Kiganiki, 74, was third. Young Faith Jerotich aged seven won in her category, followed by her agemate Miriam Jepkorir while Brenda Jeruto, also aged seven, was third.
In the category for boys aged below seven, seven-year-old Bramwell Kimutai won, followed by Isaac Kiptoo and Ismael Kipkogei. Total number of girls aged between 5-7 were 149 , against 162 boys of the same age category.
Speaker after speaker urged upcoming athletes to embrace education, and to strike a balance between the two.
Race patron Farouk Kibet, said: “The theme for this year’s race is ‘running for education’ and we are happy as organizers because the students and schools are benefitting from the sport. We want children to benefit from such noble ideas. We hope to make it better next year,” said Kibet.
Race Director Barnaba Korir said: “The kind of turnout we saw at Chepsaita is on another level. It was good seeing old men and women running. It means there is need for us to create platforms for them to compete. We believe many stakeholders will come out and continue supporting the race,” said Korir.
