Cross-country events critical ahead of busy athletics season, says Kimetto

Athletics Kenya (AK) executive member and veteran coach John Kimetto, who also serves as the chairman of AK Bomet County, has emphasized the vital role that cross-country events play in preparing athletes for the busy international athletics calendar next year.

The 2024/2025 Cross Country Series will mark the beginning of the new athletics season, with the first leg set to take place on October 19 in Iten, Elgeyo Marakwet County.

This will be followed by additional legs in Machakos on November 2, Bomet on November 30, Olkalau on December 14, and Kisii on January 4, 2025.

Speaking to Citizen Digital, Kimetto underscored how cross-country events provide an essential foundation for athletes looking to build strength and endurance for major global competitions.

“Cross country offers athletes the ideal platform to prepare. The rugged terrain builds their stamina and endurance, which are essential for grueling track events.

"Many athletes who have conquered on the world stage honed their skills through cross-country."

Kimetto, a seasoned coach with years of experience, urged athletes to explore other endurance-building opportunities, such as the AK Mountain Running Championships. He highlighted the Trail Running event set to take place in Longonot this November as a perfect warm-up for the upcoming season.

"The Trail Running event in Longonot is an excellent test for athletes looking to develop both mental and physical endurance "It’s a great way to get into shape," averred Kimetto

Kimetto also commended Sports Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen for advocating for an expanded Kenyan presence at the upcoming Olympics and other international championships, stressing that early preparations are key to success.

“I want to applaud CS Murkomen for his vision and call to action regarding early preparation. If we’re to maintain our dominance, we need proper planning, prioritizing budgets for athletics and infrastructure, and fostering closer collaboration between federations and athletes,” Kimetto noted.

Kimetto, who has seen many champions rise through cross-country, referenced the success stories of two-time Olympic champion Beatrice Chebet and three-time Olympic champion Faith Kipyegon.

Both athletes, he pointed out, started their careers in cross-country before transitioning to global success on the track.

Kipyegon’s impressive résumé includes five gold medals in cross-country, winning at the 2010 and 2011 championships in Poland, the 2013 senior race in Spain, and in Kampala in 2017.

Meanwhile, Chebet, who was crowned World Cross Country champion in Bathurst, Australia, in 2023, recently defended her title in Belgrade, Serbia, solidifying her dominance in the event.

Another star, 800m Olympic champion Emmanuel Wanyonyi, demonstrated his prowess by winning the 2km race at the 2024 Sirikwa Classic Cross-Country event, further underlining the importance of these endurance-building competitions.

As the 2025 season approaches, the schedule promises a packed lineup of prestigious events, including the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, the Kip Keino Classic, the World Athletics Indoor Championships in Nanjing, and the World Relays Championships in Guangzhou.