Millions up for grabs at inaugural Great Chepsaita Cross Country

Athletics Kenya Central Rift Chairman Abraham Mutai has called on athletes to take advantage of the huge prize monies up for grabs at the inaugural Great Chepsaita Cross Country slated for December 2 at the Chepsaita Secondary School in Uasin Gishu County.

The high-altitude Chepsaita area is approximately 60km from Eldoret town.

Mutai has urged the athletes to register and put their best foot forward to make the inaugural event a resounding success. He said that the top elite athletes would earn good money, with winners set to go home Ksh100,000 richer.

“We have a total prize money of five million that will be shared among top athletes who are set to face off at the high-altitude race,” said Mutai.

What makes this year's edition even more interesting is the introduction of a Persons Living With Disability (PWD) category, as well as their prize monies. He was excited that despite the event would debut in the Athletics Kenya calendar.

"With the lucrative prize money and other merchandise, we expect about 5,000 athletes,” he averred.

“This will be one of the biggest events in the country because we are going to host this race for the first time yet it has already been put into the Athletics Kenya calendar. We are lucky this side of the country,” Mutai added.

The event comes just after the conclusion of the Athletics Kenya Cross Country meets, with the last one held in Iten, Elgeyo Marakwet on Saturday. The chairman noted that it was timely to help athletes prepare for the 2023 Cross Country Championships in Belgrade. He was excited that it would illuminate lots of grassroots talents in the region.

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According to Race Chief Executive Officer Kennedy Tanui, the inaugural will be a unique one because of the high-altitude Chepsaita area. He noted that the course will be made even tougher by the natural obstacles and terrains.

“This is one of the toughest courses this year that has all the terrains and the world obstacles, with hills and inclines. It is not a trail but a very tough race. We have many schools around expected to compete in large numbers,” said Tanui.

The race also coincides with Athletics Kenya's move to introduce a junior category in the Cross Country Championships season in a bid to step up efforts to identify, nurture, and develop athletics talents as the country gears up for the World Athletics U20 Championships to be held in Lima, Peru in 2024. The championships will be contested by athletes in the under-20 athletics category (19 years or younger by December 31, 2024). The athletes should be born between 2005 and 2008.