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Sirikwa Classic: Lobo village to come alive with huge entry for World Athletics event
From left: Eliud Kipchoge, Beatrice Chebet, Agnes Ng'etich, Simiu Ebenyo and Geoffrey Kamworor during the launch of 2026 Absa Sirikwa Classic World Cross Country Gold Tour at Lobo Village in Kapseret, Eldoret City in Uasin Gishu County on January 20, 2026. The race will be held on February 14, 2026.
What you need to know:
- Preparations for the event are at an advanced stage and organisers expect to stage a world-class event on Saturday.
- Organizers expect more than 5,000 competitors at the event, among them 3,500 juniors competing in various categories.
Organisers are putting final details on preparations for Sirikwa Classic, a World Athletics Cross Country Continental Gold Tour event that will be held on Saturday, February 14, at Lobo village in Eldoret, Uasin Gishu County.
According to the competition’s director, Kennedy Tanui, preparations for the event are at an advanced stage and organisers expect to stage a world-class event on Saturday.
“This is a world event, and we are fortunate enough to have two World Athletics Cross Country Continental Gold Tour events, which are the only ones held in Africa. Apart from Sirikwa Classic, the other event is the Great Chepsaita Cross Country Run which takes place in December.
“For Kenya to host the two events, we must stick to the rules set by World Athletics. We are doing everything to get it right because a technical delegate will monitor the event and write a report to World Athletics,” Tanui told Nation Sport on Friday.
This year, organizers expect more than 5,000 competitors at the event, among them 3,500 juniors competing in various categories.
Athletes will compete in the 2km loop for elite men and women, the under-20 women’s 6km race, under-20 men’s 8km race, as well as senior men and women’s 10km races.
There will also be 2km races for boys and girls (13-15 years), 1km races for boys and girls (9-12 years), and 500m races for boys and girls between the age of 5 and 8.
Shaped careers of athletes
This year, organisers have maintained stacks of hay on the course, but the course has been extended by 430 metres, although the total length of the competition loop remains 2km. Competitors in the senior 1okm races will tackle the 2km loop five times.
Sirikwa Classic is one of only two World Athletics Cross Country Continental Gold Tour events held in Africa. The other event is the Great Chepsaita Cross Country Run held in December.
First held in 2023 as a bronze label event, the Great Chepsaita Cross Country Run was promoted to gold label Tour in 2024.
When World Athletics introduced the Tours in 2021, Kenya was awarded a chance to host just one meet, which was named ‘Agnes Tirop Memorial Cross country’ after the late Agnes Tirop as one way of celebrating her achievements. Tirop was murdered on October 13, 2021.
In the second edition, it was renamed Sirikwa Classic. The event has shaped the careers of many athletes, who have gone on to become world beaters in various competitions.
This year, the timing of the global cross-country season took different turn to accommodate the World Athletics Cross Country Championships which took place in January before the season came to an end. Sirikwa Classic is the final event in the calendar of 2025 World Athletics Cross Country Continental Gold Tour.
