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Daniel Simiu employs searing pace to triumph at cross country championships
Daniel Simiu leads the senior men's 10km race during Athletics Kenya National Cross Country Championships at Eldoret Sports Club in Uasin Gishu County on October 25, 2025.
What you need to know:
- Simiu stayed in the leading pack and struck in the final lap, leading all the way to the tape, winning in 30 minutes and 11.1 seconds
- In senior women’s 10km race, Maureen Jepkoech broke away from the leading pack in the final stretch and engaged a higher gear to win.
Daniel Ebenyo Simiu employed searing pace in the final stage of senior men’s 10 kilometres race to retain the title in Kenya National Cross Country Championships held at Eldoret Sports Club on Saturday.
Athletics Kenya used the National Cross Country Championships to select a national team that will compete in 2026 World Athletics Cross Country Championships in Tallahassee, Florida in USA on January 10, 2026.
Representing Kenya National Police Service, Simiu stayed in the leading pack and struck in the final lap. He then led all the way to the tape, winning in 30 minutes and 11.1 seconds ahead of Kevin Chesang from Central Rift who timed 30:12.0. Denis Kipkoech Kemboi from South Rift clocked 13:13.0 to take third place.
Afterwards, the 30-year-old Simiu, who is fresh from competing in Chicago Marathon in USA where he finished 13th, said he was happy to honour the invitation from his employer, National Police Service, to compete in Eldoret.
He also spoke of his joy in qualifying to represent Kenya at the 2026 World Athletics Cross Country Championships, which will be held in Tallahassee, Florida in USA on January 10 next year.
“Winning today has really motivated me to continue working hard to make sure I make my country proud. I thank my employer for giving me an opportunity to compete at the cross-country event. Cross country is the foundation for track and road races, and I enjoyed competing here,” said Simiu, who trains in Iten, Elgeyo Marakwet County.
Daniel Simiu (second, left) competes in senior men’s 10km race during Athletics Kenya National Cross Country Championships at Eldoret Sports Club in Uasin Gishu County on October 25, 2025.
The senior women’s 10km race was an open affair, before Maureen Jepkoech broke away from the leading pack in the final stretch and engaged a higher gear to win.
Representing National Police Service, Jepkoech crossed the finish line to win in 34:16.4 ahead of Brenda Jepchumba from South Rift who clocked 34:19.8. Glorius Jepkirui from Kenya Defence Forces sealed the podium places in 34:26.8.
Jepkoech said she was happy to make the national team after failing to nail down a place in Team Kenya that competed in the World Athletics Championships in September.
“I competed in various cross country events locally to sharpen my skills, and that has helped me win here. It was a difficult race that needed a lot of calculations to win,” said Jepkoech.
In men's 8km junior category, Emmanuel Kipkorir won in 24:22.5 ahead of Frankline Kibet Chebet who timed 24:25.4. Andrew Alamisi Kiptoo finished third in 24:29.7.
In the women's 6km junior category, Cynthia Chepkurui from Nairobi region took an early lead and crossed the finish line in 20:38.8 ahead of Miriam Chemutai Kibet from South Rift region who clocked 20:49.1. Lorna Cherono from North Rift finished third in 21:00.0.
Chepkurui, who trains at the Lemotet Athletics Training Camp in Kericho said that she was well prepared for the race and having mastered the course, it was just a matter of when to strike.
