All set for AK Cross Country finale in Kisii

The series, which kicked off in Machakos on October 19, 2024, has since toured Kapsokwony (October 26), Iten (November 2), Bomet (November 30) and Olkalou (December 14) drawing top talent and thrilling performances at every stop.

AK Nyanza South Chairman Peter Angwenyi has promised an intense showdown as athletes sharpen their spikes ahead of the National Cross-Country Championships.

“We expect close to 700 athletes on Saturday. The competition will be fierce as the athletes have been preparing for this final leg using the other legs of the series. Saturday’s race will offer the participating athletes the perfect platform to prepare for both the national showdown and a packed 2025 season,” Angwenyi remarked.

The event will not only attract local stars but also a strong international presence.  Already, six athletes from South Sudan have arrived, with more participants expected from Uganda, Tanzania and even Europe.

“The race has drawn significant interest beyond our borders. Six athletes from South Sudan arrived on Tuesday and we expect more from Uganda, Tanzania and even some European athletes,” Angwenyi added.

The Cardinal Otunga course promises to be a stern test for the athletes. While predominantly flat, the course’s demanding terrain will push runners to their limits and provide a perfect stage to assess their readiness for the upcoming season.

“All arrangements are complete, and we are ready for a memorable finale. The course is flat, but it will truly test the athletes’ endurance and tactical prowess,” Angwenyi emphasised.

Saturday’s event will feature three race categories - Under-20 men (8km) and women (6km) races, senior 10km races for men and women and the 2km loop race for both men and women.

Cash prizes await the top performers, with winners in the senior 10km races set to pocket KSh50,000, while second and third-place finishers will walk away with KSh40,000 and KSh20,000, respectively.

In the Under-20 category, victors will earn KSh30,000, while the 2km loop winners will claim KSh10,000.

Some of the top athletes expected to highlight the event include Christine Njoki who placed second (36:25.1) in Olkalou just behind Hellen Ekalale (35:53.1). Njoki holds another runner-up finish at the series opener in Machakos where she clocked 36:22.9 and a fifth-place finish (34:52.7) in Iten.

Angwenyi has called on all athletes to ensure timely registration and bib collection by Friday, urging fans to show up in large numbers to cheer on the competitors.