Mud, muscle and glory: Eldoret set to crown Kenya's cross country kings and queens

Daniel Simiu celebrates after winning the 2025 national cross country title/TEDDY MULEI

On Saturday, the home of champions, Eldoret, will burst into life as Kenya’s finest distance running stars descend on the Eldoret Sports Club for the National Cross Country Championships.

Regarded as the soul of distance running, cross country is not just another race, it’s where grit meets rhythm and where future champions are forged in mud, sweat and determination.

It builds leg and core strength, sharpens running form and balance on rugged terrain and tests mental toughness to the core.

It’s also a gentler alternative to pounding the tarmac, a refreshing, lower-impact workout that helps athletes build endurance and versatility, especially those eyeing middle-distance glory.

This event has been the cradle of Kenya’s greatest legends, among them John Ngugi and Paul Tergat, the two-time Olympic 10,000m silver medallist and former NOCK (National Olympic Committee of Kenya) president.

Ngugi and Tergat’s names are forever etched in cross country folklore having amassed a five world cross country championship titles each. 

Ngugi ruled Neuchatel 1986, Waszawa 1987, Auckland 1988, Stavanger 1989 and Boston 1992.

He passed the baton to Tergat, who claimed consecutive crowns in Durham 1995, Stellenbosch 1996, Turin 1997, Marrakesh 1998 and Belfast 1999 before settling for bronze in Vilamoura 2000.

Saturday’s high-stakes showdown will also double up as Athletics Kenya’s selection trials for the World Cross Country Championships set for January 10 in Tallahassee, Florida.

The day will feature the senior 10km races for men and women, U-20 8km and 6km races for boys and girls respectively and the 2km loop races for men and women.

In Florida, Kenya will be keen on reclaiming the men's senior 10km title which the country last won in 2017 courtesy of Geoffrey Kamworor.

‎Prior to that, the country had claimed two back-to-back titles in Bydgoszcz 2013 through Japhet Korir and Guiyang 2015 where Kamworor claimed his maiden title.

‎In recent competitions, Ugandan's have dominated the men's race with Joshua Cheptegei in 2019 and Jacob Kiplimo in 2023 and 2024.

‎In the women's race, Kenya will be eyeing its 10th consecutive title to extend its long-standing standing dominance.

‎Florence Kiplagat opened Kenya's chokehold on the women's title in Amman 2009 before handing the baton to Emily Chebet the following year.

‎Since then, Kenyan female champions have been; Vivian Cheruiyot in Punta Umbria 2011, Chebet in Bydgoszcz 2013, the late Agnes Tirop in Guiyang 2015, Irene Cheptai in Kampala 2017, Hellen Obiri in Aarhus 2019 and Beatrice Chebet in Bathurst 2023.

‎During the last edition, Chebet led a Kenyan podium sweep clocking 31:05 with Lilian Kasait (31:08) and Margaret Chelimo (31:09).

National head coach Julius Kirwa is upbeat about the conditions ahead of Saturday’s showdown.

“This year’s preparation are good and the weather is slightly fairer than last year. It is slightly cool with some rain this time as opposed to last year, which was hot,” Kirwa said.

Kirwa highlighted the importance of the cross country in fine-tuning athletes' for next year's championships.

“Athletes should know that this is crucial race because we will be going for a long break before competitions next year like the Commonwealth Games, Diamond League and other international events. They should use this cross country to test their endurance," he said.

 Kirwa noted that this year’s edition will feature new challenging obstacles to test the athlete’s mettle.

“We have added more obstacles compared to last year. This means it will be a more competitive race. Athletes should be prepared for tough competition,” he added.

However, some aspects of the course remain unchanged.

“We have maintained the 130m finish-line stretch we introduced last year to help our athletes learn how to finish races strongly in global competitions,” he noted.

With competition expected to be sky-high, Kirwa admits that making the cut in Team Kenya will be no easy feat.

 “It will be a tall order for any athlete who has hopes of representing the country at the global stage,” Kirwa noted.

The star attraction in the men’s senior 10km race is 2023 World 10,000m silver medallist Daniel Simiu, who will be out to defend his crown.

On February 8, Simiu stamped his authority with a commanding victory, clocking 30:48 to seize the title ahead of Nickson Kogei (30:53) and Simon Mungai (30:56).

In the women’s race, Brillian Kipkoech reigned supreme, cutting the tape in 34:30 ahead of Maurine Chebor (34:33) and Stacey Ndiwa (34:55).

This year, Simiu headlines a star-studded men’s senior 10km field, entering the race with an impressive 2025 cross country resume.

After clinching the national crown, he maintained his winning momentum by capturing the Sirikwa Classic Cross Country Tour Gold title a fortnight later, clocking 29:57 to beat Gideon Rono (30:07) and Nicholas Kipkorir (30:15).

However, he approaches Saturday’s contest with redemption on his mind following a disappointing outing at the Chicago Marathon on October 12, where he placed 13th in 2:07:52.

Looking to halt Simiu’s charge to back-to-back titles is 20-year-old rising star Silas Senchura, who heads into the championships in blistering form after dominating the AK Roysambu Cross Country, where he clocked 30:25 to win the men’s 10km.

Half marathon specialist Alex Matata hopes to upset the form book as he targets his maiden appearance in national colours.

“My dream is to represent Kenya at the World Cross Country Championships and fly the nation’s flag high,” Matata told the Star in an earlier interview.

He walks into the clash buoyed by his previous half marathon outing in New Delhi where he won in 59:50, outkicking Ethiopia’s Bayelign Teshager (1:00:22) and compatriot James Kipkogei (1:00:25).

Adding depth to the field is the 2023 world U-20 cross country champion Ishmael Kipkurui, fresh from a maiden appearance at the World Championships in Tokyo.

During the 2023 edition of the world cross championships, Kipkurui cut the tape in 24:29 to secure the crown ahead of Reynold Cheruiyot (24:30) and Ethiopia’s Boki Diriba (23:31).

In the women’s senior race, Maurine Chebor will be the athlete to watch as she seeks to upgrade last edition’s silver.

Chebor has already shown remarkable consistency this season, having stormed to victory in the Machakos leg of the AK Cross Country Circuit with a time of 30:37.

The youngster has already declared her intent of punching a Team Kenya ticket for Florida.

‎"All I have to do is be patient and focus on making the World Cross Country Championships team,” she said earlier.

Standing in her way is Diana Wanza, fresh from her triumph at the Roysambu Cross Country, where she clocked 35:35.

“I will sit down with my coach, assess my strengths and weaknesses, and work on them. The goal is to be at my best for the nationals,” Wanza said after her Roysambu win.

Adding spice to the women’s lineup are Tokyo Legacy Half Marathon champion Rebecca Mwangi, New Delhi Half Marathon winner Lilian Kasait, Caren Chebet, Sandrafelis Chebet and Gladys Kwamboka.

The boys’ U-20 8km race promises fireworks as World U-20 5,000m champion Andrew Alamisi faces off with Kelvin Kiprop and Emmanuel Lemiso.

“My preparations are going on well and I am hoping for a top three finish on Saturday,” Alamisi said. "I have done sufficient speed work and endurance, this will also be my second cross country race of after I ran in Kapsokwony so my body is up to the task."

Lemiso, meanwhile, heads to Eldoret buoyed by his Roysambu U-20 victory in 24:13, confident that the experience has honed his form.

“You must work hard to get results. I ran a smart race and I hope to win again at the nationals,” Lemiso remarked after his triumph.

In the 2km loop contests, World 800m champion Lilian Odira headlines the women’s race, while World 1,500m bronze medallist Reynold Cheruiyot will be the main attraction in the men’s showdown.

Up for grabs on Saturday is also a handsome cash reward with victors in the senior 10km races pocketing Sh200,000 while second place and third place finishers pocket Sh130,000 and Sh100,000 respectively.

The prices trickle down to Sh70,000 for fourth, Sh50,000 for fifth, Sh40,000 for sixth, Sh30,000 for seventh, Sh30,000 for eighth while ninth and 10th-place finishers will pocket Sh10,000.

In the U-20 races, the podium finishers pocket Sh140,000, Sh90,000 and Sh70,000 with prices also trickling down (Sh50,000 for fourth, Sh40,000 for fifth, Sh30,000 for sixth, Sh20,000 for seventh, Sh15,000 for eighth with numbers nine and 10 pocketing Sh10,000).

In the 2km loop race, athletes stand a chance to pocket Sh50,000, Sh40,000 and Sh30,000 for the podium places.

Athletes are expected to collect their bib numbers in person on Friday at the event venue.