Over 500 athletes to battle in National Cross Country Championships

Kiambu’s Collins Kiplangat leads the pack in the 8km junior men’s race during the Central Region Cross Country Championship at Kagati grounds in Nyeri County on February 1, 2025.
What you need to know:
- With Betika as the title sponsor, senior category winners will walk away with Sh200,000, while the second and third-place finishers will pocket Sh130,000 and Sh100,000, respectively. The federation will award cash prizes up to the 10th position, with amounts ranging from Sh70,000 for fourth place to Sh10,000 for ninth and tenth positions.
- In the junior categories, winners in the 8km junior men’s and 6km junior women’s races will each receive Sh140,000. The second and third-place finishers will earn Sh90,000 and Sh70,000, respectively, with cash prizes extending to the tenth-place finishers.
A battle of titans is set to unfold this Saturday at the National Cross Country Championships at the Eldoret Sports Club in Uasin Gishu County. The highly anticipated event, now a World Athletics Bronze Label competition, will bring together Kenya’s top athletes vying for top honours.
The championships mark the culmination of the Athletics Kenya Cross Country weekend meets, county championships, regional events, and discipline forces competitions held since November last year.
With Betika as the title sponsor, senior category winners will walk away with Sh200,000, while the second and third-place finishers will pocket Sh130,000 and Sh100,000, respectively. The federation will award cash prizes up to the 10th position, with amounts ranging from Sh70,000 for fourth place to Sh10,000 for ninth and tenth positions.
In the junior categories, winners in the 8km junior men’s and 6km junior women’s races will each receive Sh140,000. The second and third-place finishers will earn Sh90,000 and Sh70,000, respectively, with cash prizes extending to the tenth-place finishers.
The 2km loop event, featuring both men’s and women’s races, will see the top three athletes win Sh50,000, Sh40,000, and Sh30,000. Positions four through ten will also receive prize money, with the lowest being Sh10,000.
This marks the third time Eldoret is hosting the National Cross Country Championships, following successful editions in 2019 and 2022. The 2019 event selected the team that represented Kenya at the World Cross Country Championships in Aarhus, Denmark. The 2022 edition was held at Lobo Village, now home to the Sirikwa Classic World Cross Country Gold Tour.
More than 500 athletes will compete across five categories: the 2km loop, 10km senior men’s and women’s races, and the junior 8km and 6km races for men and women, respectively.
Preparations are in top gear, with Athletics Kenya Central Rift regional chairman Abraham Mutai expressing confidence in delivering a world-class event.
“We expect a large number of athletics fans to come and witness world beaters competing. Given that there is no World Cross Country Championships this year, it will be a highly competitive event,” said Mutai.
To accommodate traveling fans, races will begin in the afternoon, aligning with international event schedules. "We are going to start the races in the afternoon so that fans who are coming from far areas can arrive on time to witness the competitions on that day. We shall also have a medical camp sponsored by Betika, our main sponsor, and entertainment before the races start at exactly 12:00 p.m.," added Mutai.
Athletes will collect their bib numbers and running kits on Friday, with educational forums from the Anti-Doping Agency of Kenya (ADAK) and Athletics Kenya also scheduled. Additionally, the public will have access to free medical checkups and entertainment from various artists on race day.
Cross country events play a crucial role in shaping athletes for track and field competitions, a sentiment echoed by three-time World Cross Country champion Geoffrey Kamworor.
“Cross country is very good in giving athletes strength, endurance, and speed. Once you get those three elements, you can conquer in every field. While competing on the track, I always loved starting with cross country events, and that is why I managed to do well in the years I represented Kenya in the 10,000m races,” said Kamworor, a four-time national champion.
As Kenya’s best athletes prepare to battle in Eldoret, fans can expect an electrifying showdown featuring seasoned stars and rising talents.