Sirikwa Classic World Cross Country Tour launched in Eldoret

The World Cross Country Tour gold meeting returns to scenic Lobo Village on Saturday, February 4, bringing top athletes together for spectacular head-to-head battles.

Kenyan heavyweights are gearing up to compete for titles against opponents from Sweden, Norway, Eritrea, Europe, and America at the venue in Kapseret, between Eldoret Town and the Eldoret International Airport.

Former World Under-20 5000m champion Benson Kiplangat and reigning World Under-20 1500m champion Raynold Kiprotich are among the stars that will grace the World Cross Country Tour title.

The renamed Sirikwa Classic World Cross Country will attract a strong team of Kenya's top athletics talents, according to race organizers, and will be used to position Kenya as one of the world's successful hosts of global championships.

Last year's inaugural edition was known as the Agnes Tirop Memorial World Cross Country Tour gold meeting, in honor of fallen athlete Agnes Tirop, who was found murdered in her Iten home on October 13, 2021.

According to Athletics Kenya President Jackson Tuwei, the event's planning was successful because the majority of the organizers were former athletes and athletics tacticians who understand the requirements for hosting world-class events.

“We are expecting more than 10,000 spectators in this year’s event. It will be bigger than last year’s,” Tuwei said during the official launch of the 2023 edition, at the Lobo Village.

Tuwei commented on the event's name change from Agnes Tirop Memorial to Sirikwa Classic saying, “We have done a lot of research and consultations to arrive at the new name. We want to celebrate the history of the region that has produced many world beaters in athletics.”

The staging of the second edition of the World Cross Country Tour, according to Event Chief Executive Officer Barnaba Korir, shows that Kenya is ready to host major global competitions.

Since 2020, the country has hosted the World Under-20 Championships in 2021, as well as the World Under-18 Championships and the Kipkeino Classic Continental Tour gold meeting.

Korir stated that discussions are ongoing to determine whether the country's squad for the 2023 World Cross Country Championships in Bathurst, Australia, which includes Geoffrey Kamworor and Beatrice Chebet, will participate in the Saturday event as part of their preparations before departure.

The Sirikwa Classic World Cross Country Tour, according to NOC-K Secretary General Francis Mutuku, will be part of the preparations for the 2024 Paris Olympics.

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The 2022 National Cross Championships were won by Kenyans Samuel Chebolei and Joyce Chepkemoi, who defeated a strong field of local and international athletes.

Winners of the National Cross-Country Championships on January 22, 2022, stamped their authority for the second time in three weeks at the challenging Lobo Village course during the global race, which marked the final of 14 World Cross Country Gold Tour series.

The only difference was the passage of time. Chepkemoi finished in 34:02, two seconds slower than her national championship time of 34:00.

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Chebolei, on the other hand, ran 29.46 seconds, one second faster than his 29:28 on January 22 at the same venue.

Sirikwa Classic World Cross Country Prize money

Podium finishers in the senior categories:

1.     Ksh746,700

2.    Ksh 622,250

3.    Ksh497,800

Under-20 categories:

1.     Ksh155,562

2.    Ksh 124,450

3.    Ksh 99,560

Under-18 categories:

1.     Ksh 93,337

2.    Ksh62,225

3.    Ksh49,780