The 2025 Great Chepsaita Cross Country Run is shaping up to be one of the most lucrative races on the local athletics calendar, with the organisers announcing that the winner in both the senior men’s and women’s categories will walk away with KSh750,000.

Runners finishing second will earn KSh500,000, third place KSh300,000, and prize payouts will stretch all the way to the 30th position.

The sizeable rewards have helped attract a record international turnout, with athletes from more than 41 countries expected at the December 6 event.

Organisers say the number of foreign participants far exceeds the threshold required for competitions seeking global recognition.

Local Organising Committee (LOC) member Kennedy Tanui said the race has now firmly established itself as an international fixture.

He added that a World Athletics technical delegate is scheduled to arrive on Thursday to supervise the final stages of preparation and confirm compliance with global standards.

Race organising director Barnaba Korir said registrations closed on schedule, noting that over 10,000 runners, including more than 100 elite international athletes, have confirmed participation.

“Preparing for the third edition has been smoother because of the experience gained from the last two years. We have made slight adjustments to the course to align with updated World Athletics requirements,” Korir said.

The event patron, Farouk Kibet, cautioned athletes against attempting to cheat, saying organisers want to maintain the race’s clean record.

“We have had no doping cases in previous editions. With such high prize money, some may be tempted, but we are warning them early,” he said.

Kibet added that beyond competition, the event aims to nurture emerging talent and support education initiatives within the community.