Athletics Kenya’s Youth Development chair has praised the impressive turnout of young athletes at the third edition of the Great Chepsaita Cross Country on Saturday, saying the overwhelming participation proves that Kenya’s athletic future is firmly on course.
The event delivered a vibrant lineup of junior races: 500m contests for boys and girls aged 5–7, 1km races for those aged 8–10, a competitive 2km showdown for 11–13-year-olds, and high-octane 4km battles for teens aged 14–15.
Athletics Kenya Chair of Youth Development Barnaba Korir commended the rapid rise of the Chepsaita meet, which is fast cementing its place as a crucial launching pad for budding talent.
“This was the largest number of kids we have ever had, and this shows what we are trying to achieve. Particularly encouraging is the surge in participation from ages five to seven, eight to nine, and right through to the teenage groups,” Korir said.
Speaking as both AK youth development director and race director, he expressed his delight at seeing the next generation embrace the sport with such passion.
He attributed the event’s growth to AK’s structured development programmes, especially school-based initiatives inspired by World Athletics’ Kids’ Athletics model.
Athletics Kenya Chair of Youth Development Barnaba Korir.
Beyond nurturing future stars, the Great Chepsaita Cross Country is also transforming young lives through education, offering scholarships worth Sh20 million to needy children within the Chepsaita community.
Race patron Farouk Kibet noted that children are eager to learn and develop their talents through the event.
This youth-driven momentum is also evident globally. In May, Kenya emerged as the top Member Federation in World Athletics’ Kids’ Athletics Day challenge, engaging more than 140,000 children nationwide—nearly a quarter of all global participants.
