Kenyan Cross Country Championships

The Kenyan Cross Country Championships is an annual cross country running competition that serves as the national championship for Kenya. It is organised by Athletics Kenya and has permit race status from the International Association of Athletics Federations. It is typically held in February in Nairobi, the country's capital, and entrants are almost exclusively from Kenya. Entrants represent their home region or one of the high level national works teams, such as Kenya Defence Forces, Kenya Police, Prisons or Universities.[1] These teams host their own annual team championships in order to decide their selections for the national event.[2]

Kenyan Cross Country Championships
DateFebruary
LocationNairobi, Kenya
Event typeCross country
Distance10 km for men and women
(Until 2015:
12 km for men
8 km for women)
8 km for junior men
6 km for junior women

Also known as the KCB Nairobi Cross, the event doubles as the national trials for international competitions, such as the IAAF World Cross Country Championships and African Cross Country Championships. Matching international programmes, four races feature at the championships: senior men's and women's races (10 km), a junior men's race (8 km) and a junior women's race (6 km). Senior men's and women's races distances had been 12 km and 8 km respectively until 2015. Athletes most often receive selection for their performances in these races, although the national governing body may opt to send athletes on their form outside of this race.[3] A short race for senior men and women was also present on the championships' one-day programme between 1998 and 2006, as short races were contested at the annual world championships during this period.[4]

The event attracts a very high standard of athletes, reflecting Kenya's strength long-distance running. The growth of the championships in the 1980s coincided with the country's increasing prowess in the cross country discipline, which has seen it win all but four of the men's team world titles since 1986 and numerous women's team titles since 1990.[5] Paul Tergat is the most successful athlete of the championships, having won the men's race on four occasions. Jane Ngotho is the most successful woman, courtesy of her three straight victories from 1988 to 1990. Rose Cheruiyot was the only athlete to win both long and short national titles in her career, taking the long race in 1995 before become short course champion in 2001.[4]

Past winners

Senior race
YearMen's winnerTime (m:s)Women's winnerTime (m:s)
1984 Paul Kipkoech 36:52 Esther Kiplagat
1985 Paul Kipkoech 35:34 Helen Kimaiyo Kipkoskei 16:57
1986 John Ngugi ?
1987 Paul Kipkoech Leah Malot
1988 Paul Kipkoech Jane Ngotho
1989 Boniface Merande Jane Ngotho
1990 Moses Tanui Jane Ngotho
1991 Andrew Masai Pauline Konga
1992 Paul Tergat Hellen Kimaiyo
1993 William Sigei Hellen Kimaiyo
1994 William Sigei Tegla Loroupe
1995 Paul Tergat Rose Cheruiyot
1996 Paul Tergat Sally Barsosio
1997[6][7] Paul Koech 35:03 Jane Omoro 27:37
1998[8] Paul Koech 35:56.60 Jackline Maranga 27:57.00
1999 Paul Koech Agnes Kiprop
2000 Paul Tergat Lydia Cheromei
2001 John Cheruiyot Korir Lydia Cheromei
2002 Richard Limo Pamela Chepchumba
2003[9] John Cheruiyot Korir 35:45 Alice Timbilil 26:56
2004[10] Eliud Kipchoge 35:19 Alice Timbilil
2005[11] Eliud Kipchoge 34:50 Rose Jepchumba 26:30
2006[12] Moses Ndiema Masai 31:15.4 Evelyne Nganga 23:25.6
2007[13] Richard Mateelong 36:36.0  Lornah Kiplagat (NED) 27:02.4
2008[14] Gedion Ngatuny 38:27.6 Grace Momanyi 29:02.8
2009[15] Moses Mosop 38:16.0 Florence Kiplagat 28:31.4
2010[16] Paul Tanui 35:12.5 Linet Masai 26:43.0
2011[17] Geoffrey Mutai 34:35.0 Linet Masai 26:20.5
2012[18] Bedan Karoki Muchiri 35:19.2 Joyce Chepkirui 26:08.8
2013[19] Philemon Rono 35:22 Margaret Wangari Muriuki 26:47
2014[20] Bedan Karoki Muchiri 34:55 Faith Kipyegon 26:10
2015[21] Bedan Karoki Muchiri 35:08 Faith Kipyegon 26:24
2016[22] Geoffrey Kamworor 28:19 Alice Aprot 31:13
2017[23] Leonard Barsoton 28:56 Irene Cheptai 31:48
2018[24] Geoffrey Kamworor 28:32 Stacey Ndiwa 32:16
2019[25] Amos Kirui 29:51 Hellen Obiri 33:15
2020[26] Kibiwott Kandie 29:57.7 Sheila Chelagat 34:34.9
2021[27] Rodgers Kwemoi 31:04 Sheila Chelagat 34:56
2022[28] Samwel Chebolei Masai 29:28.9 Joyce Chepkemoi 34:00.0
2023[29] Charles Katul Lokir 29:16 Ruth Chepng'etich 32:56
  • The fastest Kenyan in 2007 was Hellen Musyoka who was runner-up in 27:07.0 minutes.[13]

Short race
Year Men's winner Women's winner
1998 John Kosgei Gladys Agui
1999 Paul Malakwen Kosgei Susan Chepkemei
2000 John Kibowen Margaret Ngotho
2001 Enock Koech Rose Cheruiyot
2002 Sammy Kipketer Edith Masai
2003 John Kibowen Isabella Ochichi
2004 Abraham Chebii Beatrice Jepchumba
2005 Isaac Kiprono Songok Priscah Jepleting Cherono
2006 Augustine Kiprono Choge Beatrice Jepchumba

Statistics
Most successful athletes

References
  1. National Cross Country Championships 2016 Results. Athletics Kenya. Retrieved on 2016-04-06.
  2. Mutuota, Mutwiri (2013-02-14). Top Kenyan talent lines up for World Cross selection event. IAAF. Retrieved on 2016-04-07.
  3. Makori, Elias (2009-02-19). Stage set for Kenyan XC Champs / IAAF Permit Meeting - PREVIEW. IAAF. Retrieved on 2016-04-06.
  4. Kenyan Championships. GBR Athletics. Retrieved on 2016-04-06.
  5. IAAF World Cross Country Championships 2015 Guiyang Facts & Figures. IAAF. Retrieved on 2016-04-07.
  6. Nairobi International Crosscountry Men's 12 km. ARRS. Retrieved on 2016-09-04.
  7. Nairobi International Crosscountry Women's 6 km. ARRS. Retrieved on 2016-09-04.
  8. "Kenya's National Cross Country Championships| News". www.worldathletics.org. Retrieved 2020-08-25.
  9. "Big names humbled at Kenyan Cross Country Championships| News". www.worldathletics.org. Retrieved 2020-08-25.
  10. "Athletics-Kipchoge wins but Masai beaten in Kenyan championships". ESPN.com. Retrieved 2020-08-25.
  11. "Kids love to move at the Bambini Running Series presented by berlinovo". www.bambini-laufserie.de. Retrieved 2020-08-25.
  12. Okoth, Omulo (2006-02-11). Upsets highlight Kenyan Cross Country Championships. IAAF (2006-02-11). Retrieved on 2016-04-07.
  13. Njenga, Peter (2007-02-10). Kipagat Dominates, Matelong proves his mettle in Mombasa - Kenyan Cross Country Championships report. IAAF (2007-02-10). Retrieved on 2016-04-07.
  14. Okoth, Omulo (2008-03-01). Ngatunyi, Momanyi take Kenyan Cross titles, provisional squad for Edinburgh announced. IAAF. Retrieved on 2016-04-07.
  15. Makori, Elias (2009-02-21). Veterans Mosop and Kiplagat prevail in Nairobi – Kenyan World XC Champs Trials. IAAF (2009-02-21). Retrieved on 2016-04-07.
  16. Makori, Elias (2010-02-20). Tanui emerges while Masai pounces as Kenya selects squad for Bydgoszcz. IAAF. Retrieved on 2016-04-07.
  17. Mutuota, Mutwiri (2011-02-19). Mutai and Masai take hard fought wins in Nairobi; reigning World champs Ebuya and Chebet won’t defend. IAAF. Retrieved on 2016-04-07.
  18. Mutuota, Mutwiri (2012-02-18). Karoki and Chepkirui steal the headlines in Nairobi. IAAF. Retrieved on 2016-04-07.
  19. Mutuota, Mutwiri (2013-02-16). Rono and Muriuki win Kenyan World Cross Trials in Nairobi . IAAF. Retrieved on 2016-04-07.
  20. Mutuota, Mutwiri (2014-02-15). Karoki and Kipyegon win in Nairobi. IAAF. Retrieved on 2016-04-07.
  21. Mutuota, Mutwiri (2015-02-14). Karoki and Kipyegon successfully defend Kenyan cross-country titles. IAAF. Retrieved on 2016-04-07.
  22. Mutuota, Mutwiri (2016-02-13). Kamworor and Aprot win at penultimate IAAF Cross Country Permit meeting in Nairobi . IAAF. Retrieved on 2016-04-07.
  23. Evans, Kip (2017-02-18). Barsoton and Cheptai take Kenyan cross-country titles. IAAF. Retrieved on 2017-03-22.
  24. Kamworor and Ndiwa triumph at Kenyan Cross Country Championships. IAAF (2018-02-10). Retrieved on 2019-04-05.
  25. Kirui surprises Kamworor and Kipruto at Kenyan Cross Country Championships. IAAF (2019-02-23). Retrieved on 2019-04-05.
  26. Okeyo, Dennis (15 February 2020). "Athletics Kenya names the national team to Africa Cross Country Championships in Togo". The Standard. Retrieved 21 January 2023.
  27. "Kwemoi and Chelangat crowned Kenyan cross-country champions". World Athletics. 13 February 2021. Retrieved 21 January 2023.
  28. "Results: Athletics Kenya National Cross Country Championships 2022". Watch Athletics. Retrieved 21 January 2023.
  29. Lagat, Justin (21 January 2023). "Chepngetich dazzles at Kenyan Cross Country Championships". World Athletics. Retrieved 21 January 2023.
List of winners
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