2021 Tokyo Olympics 800m silver medallist Ferguson Rotich is set to test his endurance and speed this Saturday at the Betika Cross Country meet, which also serves as the fourth leg of the Athletics Kenya Cross Country Series.
Rotich, 35, kicked off his 2024 season at the Botswana Golden Grand Prix, where he finished seventh in the 800m with a time of 1:47.08.
He wrapped up his year on a high note, posting a season’s best of 1:44.49 at the Memorial Van Damme meeting in Brussels.
In the women’s 10km race, a fierce contest is expected as Maureen Chebor chases a second victory in the series.
Chebor opened the season in August with a successful title defence in Machakos, and later that month secured double gold in the 5,000m and 10,000m at the Bigwafest opener in Nakuru County on August 16.
Chebor will face strong competition from 2015 World U18 2,000m steeplechase silver medallist Sandrafelis Chebet, who finished second in Nakuru (32:22.1), and Brenda Chepchirchir, who came third in 32:26.3.
The trio will also be up against local favourite Mercy Cherono, the 2013 World 5,000m silver medallist, who narrowly missed the podium in Nakuru with a fourth-place finish in 32:38.9. Cherono will be eager to reclaim victory on home turf.
The event will be held at the Kericho Teachers Training College grounds, with approximately 400 athletes expected to participate. Competition categories include the senior men’s and women’s 10km races, mixed relay, and the masters (50+ years) division.
A total prize purse of over KES 500,000 is up for grabs. Winners of the senior 10km races will each take home KES 150,000, while top performers in the relay and masters categories will also receive attractive cash prizes.
Following the Kericho leg, focus will shift to the National Cross-Country Championships and Team Kenya Trials for the World Cross Country Championships, slated for October 25 at Eldoret Sports Club in Uasin Gishu County.
