Second junior crown in sight for world cross champion Kibet

Reigning World Cross Country Under-20 champion Frankline Kibet is confident of delivering another global title for Kenya when he heads to the World Under-20 Championships in Eugene, Oregon, set for August 5–9.

Kibet will carry the nation's hopes in the men's 5,000m alongside Nehemiah Kipng'eno as the duo seek to defend the title Kenya won at the 2024 championships in Lima, Peru.

In Lima, Andrew Alamisi stormed to gold in 13:41.14, holding off Ethiopia's Abdisa Fayisa (13:41.56) and Uganda's Keneth Kiprop (13:41.73) to hand Kenya the coveted crown.

Kibet says preparations have gone according to plan, with the squad putting in quality sessions in camp as they fine-tune for the Eugene showdown.

"Training in camp has been good; we are in a good mood and just working to sharpen ourselves," he said.

A major source of inspiration for the 18-year-old is his golden triumph at the World Cross Country Championships in Tallahassee, Florida, on January 10. There, Kibet powered to victory in the men's U20 race, clocking 23:18 to spearhead a dominant Kenyan top-four sweep ahead of Emmanuel Kiprono (23:20) and Alamisi (23:28).

"Winning gold at the World Cross Country Championships was a great achievement. I felt so happy, and it has motivated me," he added. "As Team Kenya, we will work together at the World U20 because we have been in camp training together."

The youngster will also draw confidence from an encouraging 2026 campaign that saw him test himself against senior opposition on the international circuit.

After his World Cross Country success, Kibet opened his track season indoors in the 3,000m at the Meeting Hauts-de-France, where he finished 10th in 7:43.01.

He quickly bounced back in his first outdoor outing of the season at the Kip Keino Classic, producing an impressive runner-up finish in the 5,000m. He clocked 13:43.01 behind Ethiopia's Addisu Yihune, who won in 13:33.58.

Kibet then made his Diamond League debut in Paris on June 28, lining up in a world-class men's 5,000m field where he finished 13th in 13:08.32.

The race was won by American Grant Fisher in 12:54.80, ahead of Kenya's Jacob Krop (12:55.22) and Sweden's Andreas Almgren (12:55.38), who rounded off the podium.