Female athletes compete in the senior 10km race in Machakos/ TEDDY MULEIA clash of heavyweights is on the cards in the senior women’s 10km showdown as the Athletics Kenya Cross Country series gets underway at Machakos Teachers Training College today.
The 2017 African U-20 3,000m silver medalist Sandrafelis Chebet will go toe-to-toe with national 5,000m champion Rebecca Mwangi in what promises to be a sizzling season opener on the dusty Machakos course.
Mwangi, whose 2025 campaign has seen both highs and lows, will be out to stamp her authority early in the circuit.
She opened her campaign at the national cross-country championships on February 8, placing 21st in the senior 10km race, clocking 37:16.
Brillian Kipkoech (34:30), Maurine Chebor (34:33) and Stacey Ndiwa (34:55) completed the podium in that race.
About 14 days later, Mwangi upgraded to eighth at the Sirikwa Cross Country, timing 35:22.
Her track campaign started on April 26, where she produced a decisive kick to win the women's 10,000m at the fifth AK weekend meeting at Ulinzi Sports Complex, clocking 32:28.17 before fading to 11 in the 1,500m at the Kip Keino Classic (4:30.97) on May 31.
She returned stronger to finish third in the 10,000m (32:22.85) and first in the 5,000m (15:39.78) at the national championships in June.
Mwangi will hope to make Machakos count after falling short at the July 22 World Championships trials.
Meanwhile, Sandrafelis, a seasoned campaigner on the roads, will chase her first victory of the season.
She placed 12th at the Lanzhou Marathon (2:43:19) and eighth in the 5,000m at the June national championships (16:01:24).
Adding more depth to the field are Gladys Ngure (the national 100m hurdles champion), Tecla Cheserek, Nelly Chepkogei and Viola Chelang'a.
African U18 3,000m champion Cynthia Chepkurui will headline the U20 6km race, while Winfred Mbithe stars in the 2km loop race.
Road warrior Alex Matata is set for a thrilling duel with upcoming track star Silas Senchura in the men’s senior 10km race.
Matata has this season won the Ras Al Khaimah (59:20), Meishan (59:28), Yangzhou (59:31) and Istanbul (59:40) half marathons.
Meanwhile, Senchura has been in hot form in the distance races, winning 10,000m races at the fifth AK meeting (29:09.49), the Kip Keino Classic (28:18.46) and the national championships (28:26.17).
In the 2km loop race, 2023 African 800m champion Aaron Chemining'wa will take on Allan Kipyego.
