Daniel Ebenyo at the Kenyan Cross Country Championships (© Michelle Katami)
The weather and the seasons have changed since the last Kenyan Cross Country Championships were held in February this year, but the men's winner and the venue – Eldoret – remained the same on Saturday (25).
This time around, in relatively chilly and wet weather, and in races that doubled as Kenya’s trials for the World Cross Country Championships Tallahassee 26, Daniel Ebenyo fought not only a formidable elite field in the senior men’s 10km race but also fatigue from the Chicago Marathon he ran less than two weeks ago to emerge victorious.
Maurine Chebor, also representing the Kenya Police Service, won an equally competitive senior women’s 10km race in similar fashion, breaking away from a pack of five runners with one kilometre to go.
The cool weather and the extra incentive to compete at the World Cross on 10 January pushed the two winners to better the times they ran at the same venue eight months ago.
Ebenyo, the 2023 world 10,000m silver medallist, won in 30:12 – 36 seconds quicker than his time in February – to beat Kevin Chesergon (30:12) and Denis Kemboi (30:13).
Despite the fast pace, seven runners remained in contention until the final two-kilometre circuit when Chesergon surged. Ebenyo stayed close behind Chesergon as the field behind them disintegrated into a single file.
Ebenyo then moved forward with one kilometre to go and was soon comfortably ahead. He even had the luxury of glancing back to enjoy the race behind him as he took the penultimate bend towards the home straight.
"I am very excited and happy,” said Ebenyo, who clocked 2:07:52 at the Chicago Marathon 13 days ago and had only done some easy runs and two speed workouts since then. “I wasn’t ready after being fatigued from running the Chicago Marathon, but a call from the National Police Service to 'come and rescue the service' made me reconsider my decision to run. I thank the service for recognising me, and I’m happy to have won the title for them.
“Cross country is in my blood and in my veins,” he added. “My country also comes first before everything, and I will be happy to represent it well in Florida.”
In the senior women’s race, Chebor registered 34:17 for the win ahead of Brenda Jepchumba (34:20) and Glorius Jepkirui (34:27).
“I thank God for good health,” said Chebor. “The race was competitive. I thank my coach, who has seen how I ran today, and we shall work to perfect my form going to Florida. I tackled some injuries last year, but I am feeling good this year.”
Chebor has been in good form this season, having won several national cross-country series events in the past few months.
World 1500m bronze medallist Reynold Cheruiyot and world U20 1500m Purity Chepkirui won the men's and women's 2km races. Daniel Munguti and David Toroitich followed Cheruiyot to take second and third in the men's race, while Judy Kemunto and Winfred Mbithe did so in the women's.
Cythia Chepkurui and Mirriam Chemutai Kibet finished first and second in the U20 women's 6km race, while Emmanuel Kiprono Kipkorir and Frankline Kibet Chebet claimed the top two spots in the U20 men’s 8km event.
Justin Lagat for World Athletics
