Reigning African Games women’s 10,000m champion Janeth Chepng’etich means business in her first World Athletics cross country gold tour event of the season; the Sirikwa Classic.
The fourth edition of the international meet will be held at Lobo Village, Eldoret on Saturday and has attract top-tier local and foreign athletes.
Chepng’etich, who has seemingnly thrived on all surfaces, is one of the big names on the senior women’s 10km start list.
Chepng’etich, who trains in Keringet, Nakuru County, started her season with victory in the Athletics Kenya Cross Country Kisii race before showing her good form to clinch the Barngetuny Tindiret Mountain Run National Championships senior women’s 14km race in a time of 1:23:18.
It all has to do with her husband Patrick Kipng’eno, the reigning World Mountain and Trail Running champion.
Chepng’etich said that Kipng’eno is her main motivator as she always strives to follow in his footsteps and become a world champions as well.
“I was participating in the mountain run to experiment and build my strength. To be honest, my best expectations was a top-10 finish and it was a surprise to me that I won.
“Last year I finished eighth at Sirikwa Classic and I am of course looking to do better as I look forward to a good race while building for the World Athletics Championships selection,” she told Nation Sport.
Janeth Chepngetich stretches during a training session at the Keringet High Altitude Sports Training Academy Ground in Kuresoi South, Nakuru County on September 20, 2023.
Photo credit: John Njoroge | Nation Media Group
She is acutely aware of how close she came to qualifying for the 2024 Paris Olympic Games, just missing a spot in the women’s 10,000m, finishing fourth during the Kenyan trials at the Prefontaine Classic Diamond League in Eugene, US.
If any consolation, Chepng’etich stormed to victory at the 2023 African Games women’s 10,000m in Douala, Cameroon last March in a time of 33:37.00.
She is hungry for more. “Last season was good for me and I’m glad I managed to win the African title. I will be happy to add more trophies to my cabinet this year. My training has gone well,”she said exuding confidence.
Her main target is to earn a slot in Team Kenya for the World Championships from September 13 to 21 in Tokyo, Japan.
Chepng’etich has amply demonstrated her long distance running versatility by thriving on all surfaces.
She set a women’s course record when winning the Udine half marathon in 2022, in a time of 1:08.24.
A year later she finished second in the Prague half marathon in April 2023 before clinching the women’s Birell 10km race in Prague in 30:21, five months later.
Janeth Chepng'etich wins a previous race in 2023.
Photo credit: Pool
Victory in Sirikwa and then getting to race at the Tokyo Championships will surely cement Chepng’etich’s place as one of the best all surfaces women’s runners, not only in Kenya, but the world.
Another athlete to watch is the reigning Africa Cross Country champion Cintia Chepng’eno who also trains in Keringet.
Chepng’eno, who finished fourth at Sirikwa last year, will certainly be seeking a podium finish.
She kicked off her season with a fourth placed finish at the Castellon 10km road race in Spain in a time of 30:17 before winning the African women’s 5,000m title.
She placed 17th at the World Cross Country Championships in Belgrade, Serbia.
“On Saturday my target is to be on the podium,” Chepng’eno declared here intent.
Others who will fancy their chances are Gladys Mong’are, Caren Chepng’eno, Daisilah Jerono, Caren Chebet, Maureen Cherotich, Vivian Cherotich, Stella Mateiko, Miriam Chebet and Loice Chemining.
Winners in the senior men’s and women’s races will walk away with $6,000 (about Sh780,000), first runners up $5,000 (Sh650,000) and second runners up $4,000 (Sh520,000) .
