Maurine Chebor/ FILE
The 2025 Nijmegen 5km road race champion, Maurine Chebor, will start as the overwhelming favourite when the Betika Cross Country series heads to Kericho Teachers Training College this weekend.
The lush hills of Kericho are expected to host hundreds of elite and grassroots athletes battling across three categories: the 10km men’s and women’s senior races, mixed relay and masters (50+ years).
Chebor arrives in Kericho in red-hot form, fresh from a commanding distance double at the Betika BingwaFest opener in Nakuru on August 16.
She clocked 15:40.8 in the 5,000m before storming to the 10,000m crown in 32:22.1.
Her brilliance has not been confined to the track.
On August 10, she extended her winning streak to the Athletics Kenya Cross Country circuit opener in Machakos, powering to a 30:38 finish to defend her title.
She outkicked 2015 World U18 2,000m steeplechase silver medallist Sandrafelis Chebet (31:08) and national 5,000m champion Rebecca Mwangi (31:19).
It was a repeat of her dominance on the same Machakos course last season, where she triumphed in 36:22.9.
Chebor heads into Kericho riding a wave of momentum after a stellar 2025 campaign that has seen her shine both at home and abroad.
She opened her season with a runner-up finish at the National Cross Country Championships in Eldoret, clocking 34:33 behind Brillian Kipkoech (34:30).
Her form on the road has been equally impressive, winning at the Nijmegen 5K in the Netherlands (15:01) and securing a third-place finish at the Tokyo 5K (14:40).
On the track, she posted a 15:14.57 for second at the Kip Keino Classic Continental Tour, finishing behind Uganda’s Sarah Chelangat (15:03.33), followed by a third-place finish at France’s FAST5000 Meeting (15:00.09) and a commendable 13th at the Prefontaine Classic in Eugene (14:50.68).
Up for grabs in Kericho is a Sh500,000 prize purse, with winners in the senior 10km races pocketing Sh150,000 each.
Athletics Kenya said the Kericho leg is a crucial build-up for established and emerging talents eyeing major global assignments.
Eric Mwiti, Betika Group Brand Manager, said the event embodies the spirit of Kenyan athletics, providing a vital bridge between grassroots talent and world-class success.
“Cross country is in Kenya’s DNA, and we are proud to contribute to the sport from the grassroots up. Kericho is not just another stop; it’s a proving ground where future world champions will be made. We want every young runner lining up on Saturday to feel that they are part of something bigger – a community, a legacy, and a path to the world stage,” he said.
Bib collection will take place on Friday from 8 am at the Kericho Teachers Training College.
