Chebor eyes hat-trick as AK X-Country circuit heads to Kapsokwony

Reigning Nijmegen 5km road race champion Maurine Chebor will be gunning for a hat-trick of victories when the Athletics Kenya Cross Country series storms Kapsokwony today for its third leg.‎

‎Chebor, who has been the standout performer of the circuit so far, swept to victory in the season opener in Machakos before repeating the feat in Olkalou last month. 

AK safeguarding chair Elizabeth Keitany is anticipating another bumper turnout. "We expect a big number of competitors on Saturday. I believe this event will be like Olkalou, which was very successful," Keitany said.

‎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."‎

‎After her second victory in Olkalou on August 30, Chebor noted that she is steadily sharpening herself for the World Cross Country. ‎"This is my second victory in the series, and it feels nice. My target is still to represent the country at the World Cross Country Championships," she noted. Chebor has been in fine form throughout her 2025 season.

‎On April 5, she claimed victory at the Nijmegen 5km road race, stopping the clock in 15:01 before going on to place third at the Tokyo 5km road race on May 3, clocking 14:40.

‎On June 7, she placed third at the FAST5000 event in France, clocking 15:00.09 behind Uganda's Sarah Chelangat (14:46.41) and Gabriela Debues Stafford (14:47.84) of Canada 

‎‎In Kapsokwony, Chebor is expected to reignite rivalries with Mwangi and Cintia Chepng'eno.