Alex Matata during the national championships/ TEDDY MULEI Reigning Ras Al Khaimah Half Marathon champion Alex Matata faces a tough call as he weighs between chasing glory at the Valencia Half Marathon or donning Kenya’s colours at the World Cross Country Championships.
The Valencia showdown is set for October 26, just a day after the National Cross Country Championships in Eldoret, which will act as the Kenyan trials for the global contest scheduled for January 10, 2026, in Florida, USA.
Valencia organisers had already drafted Matata into their men’s elite field, where he is billed to face Ethiopia’s defending champion Yomif Kejelcha.
Kejelcha stormed to victory last year in 57:30, ahead of Kenyans Daniel Mateiko (58:17) and Isaia Lasoi (58:21).
Also confirmed in the line-up are Patrick Mosin, Gideon Kiprotich, Samwel Mailu and Hillary Kipkoech.
In an interview with the Star, Matata revealed that he was still weighing his options between competing at the national Cross Country for a slot in team Kenya and the Valencia Half Marathon.
"At the moment, it's hard to decide. The national Cross Country is set to be held on October 25 and Valencia is on 26, so it will be impossible to compete in both," Matata said.
Speaking earlier, Matata relayed his dreams of lowering his personal best in his Valencia debut.
“I have never run in Valencia, but I know it is a fast course. If I run there, I am very sure I can lower my personal best to 58 or probably 57 minutes,” he noted.
He, however, still harbours dreams of donning the national team colours.
"I want to run more track races and also cross country to represent the country in international competitions one day," he had said earlier.
Matata has had a strong start to his 2025 campaign, dominating in every race he has stepped up in.
On February 1, he clocked 59:20 to win the Ras Al Khaimah Half Marathon, leading Ethiopia's Gemechu Dida (59:25) and compatriot Isaia Lasoi (59:26).
He followed it up with back-to-back victories in China, clocking 59:28 in Meishan and 59:31 in Yangzhou.
On April 27, Matata stormed to his fourth consecutive Half Marathon victory in Istanbul, clocking 59:40.
In that race, he led Ethiopia's Berehanu Tsegu (1:00:47) and compatriot Shadrack Kendaywo (1:01:28).
In June, he tested his legs on the track, featuring in a 5,000m race at the national championships at the Ulinzi Sports Complex, winning his heat in 13:50.91.
Overall, Matata ranked fourth behind Gilbert Kiprotich (13:37.06), Amos Kiprotich (13:37.58) and George Manangoi (13:43.03).
