Chepsaita: The much-anticipated Great Chepsaita Cross Country Run concluded with Mathew Kipkoech and Dorcus Ndiema taking the top prizes in the male and female races, respectively. The third edition of the event was held at Chepsaita Secondary School Grounds under the theme “Run for Education.”
According to Kenya News Agency, the men’s 10km race saw an exhilarating finish, with Kipkoech clocking 31:49 to narrowly defeat Cornelius Konor (31:50) and Sammy Kapserem (31:51) in a dramatic three-way sprint. The 20-year-old, who trains in the high-altitude hub of Iten, improved his position from a third-place finish last year. Kipkoech expressed his satisfaction, saying, ‘I put in more effort after last year’s show and motivated myself to keep improving,’ noting his recent successes in European cross country meets.
Runner-up Konor, who was making his senior debut in the event after competing in the U20 ranks last year, described the race as challenging but was pleased with his strong finish.
In the women’s 10km, Ndiema delivered a decisive performance, finishing in 35:44, ahead of Brenda Jepchirchir (36:08) and Faith Cherono (36:39). Celebrating her recent graduation to the senior elite ranks, Ndiema viewed her victory as a fitting response after missing out on the Kenyan team for the Florida World Cross Country Championships. She expressed optimism about representing Kenya in future major championships.
The Under-20 category featured Kelvin Kariankei dominating the 8km men’s race with a time of 25:20, followed by Emmanuel Kipchirchir (25:27) and Alex Pelor (25:33). Kariankei, a Form Four student at Chepsaita Secondary School, attributed his victory to smart pacing and insights gained from the National Cross Country Championships.
In the women’s U20 6km, Chepkurui Joan impressed by finishing in 21:34, outpacing Mercy Kirwa (21:48) and Fancy Chepkorir (22:07). The Kuresoi-based athlete attributed her unexpected win to rigorous preparation.
The 2025 Great Chepsaita Cross Country Run showcased endurance and the unyielding spirit of Kenyan athletes, from young sprinters to elite competitors. The event highlighted community resilience and the promise of future champions on the challenging course.
