North Rift’s Lomoni throws down the gauntlet to national foes
Athletics Kenya’s Central Rift Chairman, Abraham Mutai (centre), who is the National Cross Country Championships Local Organising Committee Chairman, and other officials, at Eldoret Sports Club in Eldoret City, Uasin Gishu County on February 05, 2025, during inspection of preparations for the event slated for Saturday.
What you need to know:
- Athletics Kenya will present 12 teams from its regions namely Nairobi, Central, Southern, Coast, South Rift, Nyanza, Eastern, Nyanza South, North Eastern, Central Rift, North Rift and Western.
- AK affiliates Universities, National Police Service, Kenya Defence Forces and Kenya Prisons Service will also have teams.
- Guest teams are National Youth Service, Kenya Wildlife Service and the Kenya Forest Service.
Going by his form this season John Lomoni fancies his chances against the big boys of Kenya when the National Cross Country Championships are held at Eldoret Sports Club, on Saturday
Lomoni, who trains in Iten under the Kiprun Athletics Camp, is gunning for a top 10 finish in the senior men’s 10km that is a world championship race but in name.
He will come up against renown runners the likes of world 10,000m silver medallist Daniel Ebenyo and Edwin Bett from National Police Service, Peter Wanyoike and Silas Chepkwony from Kenya Prisons Service, Abdirahman Ibrahim Ali, Adan Siyad Osman and Abdisamad Osman Jama from North Eastern.
“I expect a tough race because those competing are the best who were selected across the country but I also prepared myself well and I’m looking forward to a good race on Saturday,” said Lomoni who finished second at the North Rift Region championships held in Kapenguria, West Pokot County two weeks ago.
Lomoni started the season with an 11th placed finish at the Athletics Kenya Cross Country Meet in Kapsokwony, Bungoma on October 26 before finishing third in Olkalau on December 14.
Over 500 elite runners are expected to race in Eldoret on Saturday in men’s and women’s senior 10km, men’s junior 8km, women’s junior 6km and a 2km loop.
Winners in the senior races will each pocket a hefty Sh200,000 prize money, an increase of 1,000 per cent, from the Sh20,000 earned last year. First runners up will pocket Sh130,o00 and second runners up Sh100,000.
All other categories have also seen a big rise in prize money.
The meet’s Technical Director Ibrahim Hussein said that there is a slight change at the finishing area that will allow guests to follow the action all the way to the line.
Hussein said the course was good for the athletes because it will severely test their fitness due to the challenges it has.
Athletics Kenya will present 12 teams from its regions namely Nairobi, Central, Southern, Coast, South Rift, Nyanza, Eastern, Nyanza South, North Eastern, Central Rift, North Rift and Western.
AK affiliates Universities, National Police Service, Kenya Defence Forces and Kenya Prisons Service will also have teams.
Guest teams are National Youth Service, Kenya Wildlife Service and the Kenya Forest Service.