NAIROBI, Kenya, January 2 – Six athletes from South Sudan are among over 700 athletes who will be hunting for success at the final leg of the Betika Athletics Kenya (AK) Cross Country Series at the Cardinal Otunga High School in Mosocho, Kisii on Saturday.
AK South Nyanza region chair Peter Angwenyi expects a battle royale on the material day as athletes seek to start the new year with a bang.
“So far, we have registered over 700 athletes including six from South Sudan. We are expecting more foreign runners to register including from Uganda, Tanzania and some European countries. It is the first race of the year and so many will be keen to start strong,” Angwenyi said.
A busy calendar of events beckoning, competitors will be keen to ramp up their endurance and speed with their eyes cast towards the World Championships in Tokyo, which is the premier athletics event this year.
The series has so far produced interesting storylines across the six categories of competition, beginning with the first leg in Machakos (October 19) and then Kapsokwony (October 26), Iten (November 2), Bomet (November 30), and Ol Kalou (December 14).
Organisers for Saturday’s competition say they have ‘saved the best for last’, preparing a course that is going to put all runners to the test.
“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 pointed out.
As the curtains come down on the 2024/25 series, all eyes will turn to the regional championships and — ultimately — the national showdown at the Kenya Prisons Staff Training College in Ruiru on February 8.
Fireworks await in Mosocho.
