The third edition of the Great Chepsaita Cross Country Run unfolded in Uasin Gishu County with major announcements from event host and patron Farouk Kibet, who pledged to personally sponsor the two U-20 champions, male and female, to travel to the United States for the 2026 World Athletics Cross Country Championships.
Kibet said he will fully finance their trip to Tallahassee, Florida, where the global event will be held on January 10, 2026.
“The government will not pay for their flights. I’ll pay for it. If it’s first class, I’ll pay,” he declared, noting that the gesture aims to motivate young athletes across the country.
“We want them to go there so that when they return, they will be an inspiration to other children nationwide,” he added.
Kibet urged Athletics Kenya (AK) to help expedite travel documents for the two rising stars.
He called on officials to ensure the athletes secure passports, visas, and accommodation arrangements so they can travel with Team Kenya as observers.
Earlier, race director Barnaba Korir affirmed that Athletics Kenya will ensure the duo join the national World Cross Country residential training camp in Embu.
“AK will also assist in securing travel documents so they can accompany Team Kenya to Tallahassee, Florida, as observers during the World Cross Country next January,” Korir said on December 5.
During the event, Kelvin Kariankei clinched the men’s 8km title, while Joan Chepkurui dominated the women’s 6km race to secure the U-20 slots for the American trip.
The 46th World Athletics Cross Country Championships will mark the third time the United States hosts the event, following previous editions in New York (1984) and Boston (1992).
Kibet also announced a significant increase in prize money for the fourth edition next year.
The winner will get Sh1 million, Sh700,000 for the first runners-up and Sh500,000 for second runners-up.
This marks a major jump from this year’s prizes, where winners took home Sh750,000, while second and third-place finishers earned Sh500,000 and Sh350,000, respectively.
In the junior categories, this year’s U-20 winners received Sh200,000 each, with second and third-place finishers taking home Sh150,000 and Sh100,000.
The younger age groups, from 14-15 years down to the 5-7 years category, also received structured cash awards ranging from Sh10,000 to Sh60,000.
Kibet further urged authorities to intensify the crackdown on individuals who exploit athletes by selling performance-enhancing substances, saying offenders should face the full force of the law to deter others.
This year’s event, themed “Run for Education,” brought together thousands of athletes, leaders, and spectators.
More than Sh20 million was awarded as prize money, while an additional Sh20 million was raised toward scholarships and school fees for learners from low-income backgrounds, cementing the race’s reputation as both a sporting and humanitarian platform.
National Assembly speaker Moses Wetang'ula, who was the chief guest, urged MPs to continue allocating more resources to sports.
"He said investing in talent development is investing in our country’s future, and we must remain committed to supporting sporting activities at all levels," he said.
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