Former Boston Half Marathon champion Brillian Jepkorir made a resounding return from maternity leave to emerge victorious in the 2025 National Cross-Country Championships staged at the Eldoret Sports Club on Saturday.
Jepkorir, representing Kenya Prisons, stunned bigwigs as she produced brilliant performance in the senior women’s 10km afternoon race which was run under hot weather conditions.
The half marathon silver medalist delivered her win in 34:30 ahead of Maurine Jepkoech representing North Rift in 34.33. Stacy Ndiwa of NPS completed the podium in 34:55.
“I have come from maternity leave and I’m happy to be back. The race was part of my preparations for a half marathon, which will be confirmed by my management,” Jepkorir said after victory.
In the women’s stellar field was former London Marathon champion Joyciline Jepkosgei who finished fourth after running the last two laps without one shoe in the 10km distance.
World 10,000m silver medalist Daniel Simiu Ebenyo continued his Cross-Country dominance.
Ebenyo, looking strong and enjoying the competition, tested the field with an increase of pace which led to a quick response from Lagat and Simon Mungai. Ebenyo never relinquished the lead, dictating the pace with Robert Kiprop Koech, Charle Katur Kakuri and Simon Mungai on his trail.
The World Road Running Half Marathon silver medalist’s finishing surge was unmatched and he went on to claim victory in 30:48. Nickson Kogei of Kenya Wildlife Service came through for second place in 30:53 with Mungai of Central region taking third in 30:56.
“The race was very competitive but it was good,” said Ebenyo. “This race is part of my preparation for the Seoul Marathon (on 15 March). After Seoul, I may try to attain the World Championships qualifying time for the 10,000m but for now, I don’t know. I am open to possibilities.”
Ebenyo maintained that he had officially quit track racing to set sights on road running.
Olympic 800m champion Emmanuel Wanyonyi and former World Under-20 1500m champion Purity Chepkirui savoured victories in their respective categories in the 2km loop.
Kevin Kiprop from Central Rift overcame strong opposition from a contingent assembled by AK North Rift region to win the men’s 8km Under-20 race in 24:57.4.
A blistering sprint on the final stretch enabled Kiprop to edge out Frankline Chebet and Emmanuel Someki who finished second and third in 24:59.3 and 25:00.0 respectively in the close contest.
The women’s 6km Under-20 women turned out to be a thriller, with Lornah Cherono (21:11.7) taking the title ahead of and Joyline Chepkemoi (21:15.6) and Cynthia Chepkurui (21:21.1) who came in second and third respectively.
The top three junior women changed leads from the gun before Cherono, who trains at Tegla Loroupe camp in Siyoi, West Pokot (North Rift) powered past her counterparts.
“I am so happy to have won the race today. Having previously competed in the AK Cross-Country series; I was ready to go for the big prize. I was second at Discovery Cross Country held in Eldoret recently (26 January) and I’m thankful that I have emerged top in the national event,” Cherono.
Chepkemoi was representing the Central Rift while Chepkurui carried Nairobi region’s podium hopes.
The national cross-country championships were a warm-up to the Sirikwa Cross Country Classic – a World Athletics Cross Country Tour Gold event – which takes place two weeks from today.
The Sirikwa World Cross Country Tour scheduled for 23 February will mark the end of the Cross-Country season and usher in the track season and preparations for the 2025 Tokyo World Championships in September.
Athletics legends among them former 3,000m steeplechase record holder Moses Kiptanui and 1988 Olympic 5,000m champion John Ngugi as well as National Olympic Committee of Kenya (NOC-K) president Paul Tergat followed the event live at the Eldoret Sports Club.
Multiple Olympic and World champion Faith Kipyegon and javelin star Julius Yego also watched the hot contests on the sidelines.
