Great Chepsaita targets 10,000 participants for its 4h edition

The Great Chepsaita Cross Country is targeting more than 10,000 participants for its fourth edition set for  December 5.

Race chairman Barnabas Korir said the competition had grown into one of Kenya’s leading cross-country events, attracting more than 7,000 schoolchildren from over 48 schools in previous editions.

The event’s recognition by World Athletics through its Gold Label status had strengthened its international profile and increased its appeal to elite athletes, Korir said during the media launch.

“We have the best cross-country competition in the country, which is a Gold Label event. Athletics can transform a community within a short time,” he said.

The organisers said 70 million shillings had been distributed in prize money and other awards between 2023 and 2026.

Winners of the men’s and women’s elite races will each receive 750,000 shillings, with runners-up earning 500,000 shillings and third-place finishers 300,000 shillings. Awards will extend to the top 30 finishers.

Korir said the competition had also contributed to community development, particularly education, through its partnership with the M-Pesa Foundation. He cited the construction of a laboratory as one of the initiatives benefiting local schools.

Race director Kennedy Tanui said competitors should expect a demanding course, describing the Chepsaita loop as one of the country’s toughest cross-country routes.

He said the terrain would test athletes’ endurance and tactical ability, adding that organisers would provide sponge stations and drinking-water points at strategic locations.

Race patron Farouk Kibet urged young athletes to emulate established Kenyan runners, citing New York Marathon champion Geoffrey Kamworor, road-running champion Caroline Gitonga and Chicago Marathon champion Amos Kipruto.

Kibet also warned athletes against doping, saying the competition would not accommodate those using prohibited substances.

“Train clean, win clean and respect your body. We will not allow athletes who engage in doping to compete in this race,” he said.

Organisers expect the December event to bring together schoolchildren, community runners and elite competitors, including international athletes, as they seek to increase participation from previous editions.