All roads lead to the Eldoret Sports Club for the Discovery Kenya Cross Country Championships on Sunday.
Thousands of athletes – both elite and upcoming – are expected to battle for top honours across different categories of competitions including 10km senior men; 8km senior women; 8km junior men; 6km junior women; and 2km boys and girls.
The competition is one of Kenya’s oldest cross-country events, having held the initial edition in 1991, and has been the platform for the emergence of many of the country’s top talents in athletics over the years.
With three days to the competition proper, various athletes and coaches are optimistic of a good showing on Sunday and hope that the event will be the springboard to success in 2023.
Torongo athletics camp coach Barnaba Kitilit is among those who will be carrying a battalion of athletes to Eldoret and is hopeful that among them will emerge the next world beaters in the sport.
“It is a very good race in that many athletes who have participated in it have gone on to become elite. In our group are many talented runners and I believe they will put on a good show come Sunday,” he said.
With the Sirikwa Classic World Cross Country Tour to follow, Kitilit believes that fans should be in for a treat.
“The most interesting part is that a new champion is crowned every year. This shows the competitive nature of the race. The fans also make it quite interesting with the way they cheer on the athletes and motivate them,” he said.
Among those from Torongo who will be battling thousand others for glory include Geoffrey Rono, Benson Moshon, Lukas Kiprop (Senior men’s race); Joel Loshakori, Shadrach Kiptoo and Evans Kipkosgei (junior men’s race) and Josephine Wanjiku (junior women’s race).