Cheruiyot, Odira locked in for AK Cross Country opener

World Cross Country mixed relay champion Reynold Cheruiyot, African Championships 800m silver medalist Lilian Odira, and 2015 World Youth Championships silver medalist Sandrafelis Chebet are among the top athletes penned in for this weekend’s Athletics Kenya (AK) Cross Country Series opener at the Machakos Teachers’ Training College in Machakos.

The trio, who have had disappointing spells on the track and field in recent months, will be among hundreds battling for top honors across seven categories of competition, including Machakos Teachers College Fun Run (Men and Women), Under-20 (Men 8km and Women 6km), 10km Senior (Men and Women) and Mixed Relays.

Speaking ahead of Saturday’s showdown, AK’s director of competition, Paul Mutwii, called on more athletes to continue registering, noting the importance of the event in preparations for next year’s Africa Cross Country Championships and the Tokyo World Championships.

“It is important that athletes compete in this event if at all they want to have a strong season. We have also introduced some changes, like a collection of bib numbers that must be collected in person at Machakos Teachers College on Friday. All athletes must register via a link provided by the AK,” Mutwii said. 

Others expected to line up at the event include the 2022 World Indoor 1500m bronze medalist Abel Kipsang, Winfred Mbithe, the 2021 World Relays silver medalist Naomi Korir, South Rift’s Bethwell Kibiwot, Machakos-based Athanas Kioko and Kenya Prisons’ Kipngetich Ng’eno.

With the prize money increased hundredfold from Ksh 5000 to Ksh 50,000, Mutwii’s clarion call is bound to attract an avalanche of response from athletes around the country.

AK’s marketing director, Abraham Mutai, says better things will come as the federation remains locked in discussions with potential corporate partners.

“We want to make the local calendar lucrative, and that’s why we have increased the weekend series prize money. We want to lock in a sponsor so that the series will have a jackpot prize money, and we are already in talks with potential sponsors. We will be making an announcement soon,” he said.

Other legs of the annual series include Kapsokwony (October 26), Bomet (November 2), Olkalau (November 30), Kisii (December 14), and Iten (January 4).