Reigning Nijmegen 5km road race champion Maurine Chebor will be gunning for back-to-back victories when the Athletics Kenya (AK) cross country circuit heads to Ol Kalou on Saturday for the second leg.
Chebor was in imperious form during the season opener in Machakos on August 9, cutting the tape in 30:37 ahead of national 5,000m champion Rebecca Mwangi (31:07) and World U-18 2,000m steeplechase silver medallist Sandrafelis Chebet (31:18).
It was deja vu for the 24-year-old, who had also ruled the same Machakos course in 2024, clocking 36:22.9 to seal the crown. Christine Njoki (36:32.2) and Esther Kipkech (37:13.7) completed the podium in Machakos last year.
Chebor has her eyes firmly fixed on stringing together more wins on the circuit as she chases a coveted ticket to the World Cross Country Championships set for January 10 in Florida, USA.
"My journey to the Tokyo World Championships is over, but I am happy with the new personal best I set (14:50.68) in Machakos. It shows I am on the right track," she said.
At the Kenyan 5,000m trials during the Prefontaine Classic in July, Chebor clocked 14:50.68 to place 15th, narrowly missing an automatic slot for Tokyo.
She insists patience, sharper training and consistency on the roads will be key to wearing Kenya’s colours once more. "All I have to do is be patient, focus on the World Cross Country Championships, and then start preparing for the track season."
Saturday’s race will also see Chebor renew hostilities with Mwangi. The 24-year-old is fresh from a runner-up finish in Tshwane, South Africa, last Sunday after clocking 32:41 behind Glenrose Xaba (31:50).
Adding extra firepower to the women’s 10km is 2024 African cross country champion Cintia Chepng’eno, alongside Marion Kibor and Sharon Jelagat. In the men’s 10km contest, seasoned campaigner Augustine Choge, the 2012 World Indoor 3,000m silver medallist, headlines the line-up.
Elsewhere, Caren Chepng’eno will be out to defend her 2km loop crown after cruising to victory in Machakos in 6:32. She led Jacinta Abese (6:38) and Josphine Sembeyo (6:48).
Chepng'eno is expected to face stiff resistance from Sembeyo and Joan Cherono in Ol Kalou. The men’s 2km showdown promises fireworks with Daniel Munguti set to clash with Edward Manangoi.
In the women’s U-20 category, Celestine Mantaine will be hunting a second win after her 23:15.5 triumph in Machakos, where she held off Alice Chemtai (23:23.5) and Sandra Jepchumba (23:36.3).
Up for grabs is a handsome prize purse across the different categories. Winners in the senior 10km will bag Sh50,000, with Sh40,000 and Sh20,000 going to the second and third place finishers. Fourth place secures Sh20,000, fifth Sh15,000 and Sh10,000 apiece for sixth to tenth.
The U-20 champions will pocket Sh30,000, with Sh20,000 and Sh15,000 for second and third, with Sh10,000 set for positions four through 10. In the 2km loop, victors will take home Sh10,000, with Sh7,000 and Sh5,000 for the podium finishers.
