Athletes compete at a previous cross country race/ TEDDY MULEI The Sirikwa Classic World Cross Country Tour has long been one of the most important dates on the cross country calendar, not just in Kenya but across the continent.
Traditionally, it has served as the perfect dress rehearsal for the global showdown, sharpening athletes’ spikes ahead of the World Cross Country Championships.
Over the years, the Eldoret-based race has proved to be a launchpad to global stardom.
Numerous athletes who have graced the Sirikwa course have gone on to dominate the world stage, underlining its status as a true proving ground.
One such standout is quadruple world 1,500m champion Faith Kipyegon, who stormed to victory at the 2023 edition, clocking 33:50 in a commanding display that hinted at the greatness to follow.
However, this year’s race falls outside the build-up to global competition since the World Cross Country Championship was held on January 10 in Tallahassee, Florida.
Kenya reigned supreme on American soil, topping the medal table with an impressive haul of nine medals (three gold, four silver and two bronze) to seal the overall title.
That scheduling shift means the Sirikwa Classic will no longer act as a direct tune-up for the World Cross, marking a clear departure from previous editions.
Athletics Kenya President Jackson Tuwei was quick to point out the significance of this change.
“Normally, we usually have the Sirikwa Classic and then we go for the World Cross Country Championships, so it serves as a build-up,” said Tuwei.
“But now we have the Sirikwa after the World Cross, which is something that has not happened before.”
Tuwei pointed to the numerous upcoming track events that Kenyan athletes should brace for.
"We have the World Indoors, the very first global championship of the year. Then there is the African championships, the Commonwealth games and the big one of the year, the new World Ultimate Championships."
Despite falling outside the traditional World Cross timeline, Tuwei insists the race still carries immense value, just in a different context.
“However, athletes can still use the Sirikwa race to build up for the track season,” he noted, positioning the event as a springboard for an explosive transition from mud to track.
Beyond the strategic shift, the course for this year’s race remains unchanged from last season, preserving the demanding terrain that has become synonymous with Sirikwa’s identity.
The senior and Under-20 races will also be strictly by invitation, ensuring elite-only battles across the fields.
This year’s edition will be headlined by Daniel Ebenyo, who is chasing a historic hat-trick of titles.
Ebenyo dominated the 2024 race, clocking 29:16 to edge Ishmael Kipkurui (29:18) and Weldon Langat (29:26).
He followed that up with another authoritative performance last year, stopping the clock in 29:57 ahead of Gideon Rono (30:07) and Nicholas Kipkorir (30:15).
The consistent distance ace arrives in red-hot form, having opened his 2026 campaign with a bronze medal at the World Cross Country Championships, where he clocked a blistering 28:45.
“I have won the Sirikwa race twice and that has opened the door for me to greater success globally,” said Ebenyo. “I will be returning to this year’s Sirikwa race hoping to win once again.”
In the women’s race, the spotlight will shine on newly crowned World Cross Country champion Agnes Ng’etich, who claimed the global title in Tallahassee in 31:28.
She returns to defend the Sirikwa crown she won last year after stopping the clock in 32:42, ahead of Janeth Chepng’etich (33:52) and Miriam Chebet (34:09).
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