Triple Olympic champion in the 1500m and world record holder in the same event, Faith Kipyegon, will face off against 10km world record holder Agnes Jebet Ngetich in the senior women’s 10km final tomorrow at the 4th edition of the Absa Sirikwa Classic World Cross Country Tour in Lobo Village, Kapseret, Eldoret City.
At today’s event press conference in Eldoret, Kipyegon, who previously held the 5,000m world record, expressed her excitement about returning to Sirikwa, the venue where she began her 2023 season before winning double gold at the World Athletics Championships.
She said that tomorrow’s race will mark the start of her 2024 season, which will also include her debut in the 10,000m.
Agnes Jebet Ngetich, the fastest half marathoner, stated she is ready for an exciting race and views the opportunity to compete against her idol Kipyegon as a historic moment.
“I’m not feeling pressure; I’ll just focus on my race. It’s amazing to race against Faith for the first time,” said a thrilled Jebet.
The women’s race will also feature a strong field of local and international competitors, including Uganda’s Loice Chekwemoi, the African 3,000m steeplechase champion, who returns to Kenya after winning the 2nd Great Chepsaita Cross Country just two months ago.
The men’s 10km elite field will be headlined by reigning 5,000m World Athletics Championships bronze medalist Jacob Krop, who returns to cross-country for the first time since 2021.
Krop is using this race as part of his preparations for the September World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, Japan.
Top athletes set to participate at Absa Sirikwa Classic World Cross Country in Eldoret.
Krop, who earned silver in the 5,000m at the 2022 World Athletics Championships in Oregon, will face tough competition from 2022 world silver medalist Stanley Mburu, former world U20 silver medalist Leonard Bett, along with Keneth Kiprop, Uganda’s Martin Kiprotich, and the USA’s Keny Kimutai.
Meet director Barnaba Korir revealed that the federation is using the event as part of its preparation for bidding to host the World Athletics Championships, following their loss to Tokyo in the bid for this year’s event.
The winners of the 10km races will receive Ksh 780,000, with silver and bronze medallists earning Ksh 650,000 and Ksh 520,000, respectively.
