Athletics Kenya say they have already received the prize monies for the Agnes Tirop Memorial Cross Country Tour from the government and will pay winners their dues immediately after clearance from Athletics Integrity Unit.
World Athletics' regulations stipulate that payment of prize money is subject to anti-doping regulations and AK director of youth development, Barnaba Korir, said they will stick to the rules.
"When it comes to the prize money, we will stick to the rules and regulations and so we will wait until AIU gives us the greenlight concerning the doping results before we pay out the prize money," Korir said.
Korir added: "The government has already given us the money to reward those who perform well in the Tour. We don't have a problem. Just like the Continental Tour (Kip Keino Classic), the money will be paid out by AK to the athletes. We thank the government for wiring the money to us immediately."
Apart from AK's prize money, WA has provided approximately Sh 4.3 million ($37,500) to be paid out to the top six runners in the men's and women's categories. Korir described the amount from the global athletics governing body as substantial.
"The prize money from World Athletics will be paid out to those who have won the Cross Country Series and so that will depend on them (WA) on when they will pay. They are the ones to tabulate the athletes who have won and send the money to them directly or through their managers," Korir said.
Among elite athletes expected to dock in Eldoret for the one-day event include the 10,000m and 5,000m world record holder Letesenbet Gidey and 2015 World 5000m champion Senbere Teferi, both of Ethiopia.
At the same time, the Local Organising Committee has announced that the senior women's race will be the last event on the order of activities.
This is unlike the norm in most cross country races where the females precede their male counterparts.
Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and secretary of the meeting, Kennedy Tanui, said this adjustment is necessary to honour the 2015 World Cross Country champion who died last year in October.
“The international events will begin with the 10km men and end with the women's race. We know our hero Agnes Tirop was the world champion in that category and therefore the race will be in her recognition and to advocate against Gender-Based Violence (GBV),” Tanui said.
Tirop, the second-youngest ever athlete to hold a world cross country title, was found brutally murdered in her house in Iten, Elgeyo Marakwet with a stab wound to the neck. Tanui further clarified that the national races will follow the usual order of activities.
“At the national event, all our young talents will be showcasing their talents. They were selected from across the country including weekend meetings like in Machakos, Kapsokwony, Iten and Sotik. We shall start with a curtain-raiser by kids below 10 years who will compete within 1km distance. Afterwards, the 10-year-olds, under-18s and under-20s will take the stage in that order,” Tanui said.
Furthermore, during the official opening ceremony at 2 pm, Kenya will parade some of its heroes who have brought the country honour in cross country.
“We have invited the likes of Paul Tergat, John Ngugi, Isabella Ochichi, Benjamin Limo, Paul Kibowen, Alice Timbilil, among others. We have invited 18 of them to be here,” he said.
