Chebolei, Chekwemoi reign supreme at Great Chepsaita Cross Country
Chebolei clocked an impressive 30:49 to claim the men's 10km title.
1mon agoMATHEWS NDANYI AND TEDDY MULEIAthletics
Six South Sudan athletes have arrived in Kisii ahead of the sixth and final leg of the Betika Athletics Kenya Cross Country series scheduled for Saturday at Cardinal Otunga High School, Mosocho.
The contingent, drawn from the Imagine Chukudum Academy, includes Cecilia Juli, Nancy Apuri, Elizabeth Loturi, Rebecca Marial, Flora John, Susan Joseph, Paul Mark, Abiech Kuek, Lotino Akileo and Mark Lomwa.
They are accompanied by coach Mark Lokang and Andrew Amum and arrived on Tuesday to acclimatise for what promises to be a gruelling contest.
Athletics Kenya (AK) Nyanza South chairman Peter Angwenyi assured that preparations are complete, with the course already marked and ready for action.
Angwenyi emphasised the importance of early bib collection, urging all athletes to pick theirs by Friday at Cardinal Otunga.
“Being the year’s first event, we expect a huge turnout. So far, more than 700 athletes have registered. Athletes from South Sudan have already arrived and we expect a couple of athletes from Tanzania and Uganda,” Angwenyi said.
Speaking to journalists at Cardinal Otunga High School, Angwenyi added: “AK technical officials have already marked the course. It’s a bit challenging but athletes will enjoy running here. The weather is also perfect because it has not rained for the last few days.”
The series, which kicked off in Machakos on October 19, 2024, has since toured Kapsokwony (October 26 ), Iten (November 2 ), Bomet (November 3 ) and Olkalou (December 14 ) drawing top talent and thrilling performances at every stop.
With the Tokyo 2025 World Championships looming, the Kisii meet provides a crucial platform for senior athletes to gauge their fitness and fine-tune their racing strategies.
“As we kick start the Road to Tokyo, several senior athletes will be here to gauge their bodies ahead of the busy season,” said Angwenyi.
Saturday’s event will feature three main categories; the Under-20 men ( 8km) and women ( 6km) races, the 2km loop (men and women) and the senior 10km race (men and women).
Angwenyi added that besides the main events, there will be kids and elderly races. “The kids and elderly events will be curtain raisers,” Angwenyi added.
Young athletes from AK Youth Training Camps will be in action, including a 40-member squad from Riooga PAG Secondary School Camp.
“During the December holiday, we had 90 athletes in our camp. We are fielding 40 middle and long-distance runners for this weekend’s competition,” said Haron Onchong’a, the principal.
Vincent Langat cruised to victory in the senior men’s category at the 5th edition held at Olkalou, while Japan-based Hellen Ekalale emerged victorious in the women’s category.
