Sports CS Mvurya laud Kenya's Cross Country supremacy in Florida

Kenyan athletes compete in the Senior men's 10km during the World Cross Country Championships in Florida /XINHUA 

Cabinet Secretary Salim Mvurya says Kenya’s latest World Cross Country triumph in Tallahassee, Florida, is less about a single golden moment and more about a system that continues to produce champions across generations.

As the championships concluded, Kenya once again stood atop the overall standings—marking a third straight global cross-country crown and reinforcing the country’s reputation as the world’s most reliable factory of distance-running excellence.

The nine-medal haul—three gold, four silver and two bronze—told only part of the story. What stood out most, according to Mvurya, was Kenya’s ability to dominate across age groups and disciplines, from seasoned campaigners to emerging teenage stars.

World 10km record holder Agnes Ng’etich set the tone with a commanding victory in the senior women’s race, while Frankline Kibet showcased the future of Kenyan athletics by clinching gold in the men’s U20 contest. The men’s U20 team underlined that promise by combining for team gold, highlighting the country’s unmatched depth at the junior level.

Further evidence of Kenya’s breadth came through silver medals in multiple team events, alongside individual podium finishes by Emmanuel Kiprono in the men’s U20 race and bronzes earned by Daniel Ebenyo and Andrew Alamisi.

Mvurya noted that Kenya’s success in Tallahassee mirrored recent dominance at the World Cross Country Championships, having topped the medal table in Bathurst in 2023 and Belgrade in 2024—proof, he said, of sustained excellence rather than a fleeting peak.

“This performance once again confirms that Kenya’s strength lies not only in winning medals, but in consistently producing athletes capable of competing at the highest level,” Mvurya said while congratulating Team Kenya.

The CS paid special tribute to the full contingent of 35 athletes, emphasising that national pride was carried by every runner, not just those who mounted the podium.

“Every stride taken reflected the resilience, discipline and spirit of our nation. Even beyond the medals, our athletes represented Kenya with honour,” he said.

Mvurya added that the Florida showing was a clear return on long-term investment in grassroots development, athlete welfare and structured training pathways supported by the government.

He concluded by applauding Athletics Kenya, coaches, medical personnel and technical teams for ensuring the athletes arrived fully prepared, saying their collective effort continues to keep Kenya at the summit of global distance running.