By OUR CORRESPONDENT
The 2024/25 Athletics Kenya calendar kicks off on Saturday with a cross country opener at Machakos Teachers’ Training College.
Top athletes among them World Cross Country mixed Relay champion Reynold Cheruiyot is among top athletes who have confrirmed their participation in the one day event.
African Championships 800m silver medalist Lilian Odira and 2015 World Youth Championships silver medalist Sandrafelis Chebet are among elite athletes who have entered the race.
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.
The trio, who have had disappointing spells on the track and field in recent months, will be among hundreds battling for top honours 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.
Athletics Kenya’s Vice President and 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 as well as the World Championships in Tokyo.
“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.
With the prize money increased hundredfold from Ksh5,000 to Ksh50,000, Mutwii’s clarion call is bound to attract an avalanche of response from athletes around the country.
AK’s marketing director Abraham Mutai says there are better things to come as the federation remains locked in discussions with potential corporate partners.
“We want to make the local calendar lucrative 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 are already in talks with potential sponsors. We will be making an announcement soon,” he said.
After Machakos, the action heads to Kapsokwony on October 26), Bomet (November 2), Olkalau (November 30), Kisii (December 14) and Iten (January 4).
