The Great Chepsaita Cross Country is targeting more than 10,000 participants for its fourth edition, scheduled for December 5, with organisers promising a bigger and more competitive event.
Speaking during the media launch, race chairman Barnabas Korir said the competition had grown into one of Kenya’s leading cross-country events, earning Gold Label status from World Athletics.
Korir noted that the race had attracted more than 7,000 students from over 48 schools, positioning it as an important platform for nurturing young talent and driving community transformation through sport.
“We have the best cross-country competition in the country, which is a Gold Label event. Athletics can transform a community within a short time,” said Korir.
He described Great Chepsaita as the country’s highest-paying cross-country competition, revealing that Sh70 million had been distributed in prize money and other awards between 2023 and 2026.
The fourth edition will feature a total prize purse of Sh20 million, with rewards extending to the top 30 finishers.
In the elite category, winners of both the men’s and women’s races will each take home Sh750,000, while runners-up will receive Sh500,000 and third-place finishers Sh300,000.
Korir said the competition’s impact extended beyond athletics, particularly through its support for education and community development in partnership with the M-Pesa Foundation.
One of the initiatives includes the construction of a laboratory to benefit local schools, highlighting the event’s commitment to improving lives through sport.
The December 5 competition is expected to bring together schoolchildren, community runners and elite athletes, with organisers also anticipating international participation.
Korir said the event’s World Athletics recognition had enhanced its global profile, attracting interest from athletes beyond Kenya.
Race director Kennedy Tanui said competitors should expect a demanding contest, describing the Chepsaita course as one of the toughest cross-country routes in the country.
He said the challenging terrain would test athletes’ endurance, strength and tactical ability, but assured participants that sponge stations and drinking-water points would be strategically placed along the course.
Great Chepsaita Cross Country patron Farouk Kibet urged athletes to use the competition as a springboard to improve their lives, noting that athletics offered opportunities beyond medals and prize money.
Kibet said the event had evolved from a modest dream into an internationally recognised competition with Gold Label status.
“When we started, it was just a dream, but today we have reached the Gold Label level. This shows how far we have come and what athletics can achieve for our community,” he said.
He encouraged young athletes to draw inspiration from accomplished Kenyan runners, including New York Marathon champion Geoffrey Kamworor, road-running champion Caroline Gitonga and Chicago Marathon champion Amos Kipruto, saying their success demonstrated the rewards of discipline, hard work and dedication.
Kibet also warned against doping, insisting that athletes who use prohibited substances would not be allowed to compete.
“Train clean, win clean and respect your body. We will not allow athletes who engage in doping to compete in this race,” he said.
He urged participants to uphold clean sport and protect the integrity of athletics, adding that the competition remained committed to promoting discipline, talent development and positive role models among young athletes.
