by Justin Lagat
Cross-country running is the only event where middle-distance track runners run against marathon runners in the same race, aiming to achieve different outcomes. The Marathon runner will aim to sharpen their speed, while the middle-distance runner will aim to test their endurance.
As unique as the cross country event itself, the Absa Sirikwa Classic World Cross Country Tour event happening at the Lobo village in Eldoret this weekend, the 22nd of February 2025, will feature some of the reigning world record holders ranging from the 1500m, through the 10 km and to the marathon distances in the women’s senior race.
Faith Kipyegon, who holds the women’s 1500m world record at 3:46.54; Ruth Chepngetich, who holds the women’s marathon record at 2:09:56 (Ruth’s name appears on the start list but hasn’t been announced officially by the organizers), and Agnes Ngetich, holding the women’s 10 km record at 28:46, are among the big names already entered for the highly anticipated race.
Not only will the competition be hot for the elite runners from fourteen different nationalities, but the January – February weather around Eldoret will also be hot, as usual. The fight for the titles will be tough, and given the abundance of talents that usually turn up in Kenyan races, it is hard to predict which favourites will win. The organizers have considered the weather and put up water sprinklers at some points on the course.
Being the last cross-country race in the season, the organizers picked out the best performers from international and local cross-country races that happened recently and sent them invitations.
Daniel Ebenyo’s name, the defending champion from last year’s senior race and the recently crowned national champion, is on the start list of the climax race of the event. Another past champion of this event, Samuel Chebolei, the winner of the Chepsaita Cross Country event in December, is also expected to run.
There will also be runners graduating into the senior category who could spring out some surprises, and the winner of last year’s U20 race, Mathew Kipkoech, is one of them.
800m Olympic Champion Emmanuel Wanyonyi is expected to feature in the shorter senior men’s 2 km race to battle with Abel Kipsang, Elijah Managoi, Daniel Munguti, Reynold KIpkorir and Timothy Cheruiyot, among others. Sarah Moraa, Lilian Odira, and Naomi Korir are some women’s stars to watch out for in the women’s 2k race.
