This archive report was first published on 20 November 2019.
On Saturday, Machakos will host the first Athletics Kenya (AK) Cross Country meeting, marking the beginning of the new 2019-2020 Athletics calendar. The event is expected to attract a large number of elite athletes, who will use it to shake off the rust and gauge their performance before the season gains momentum.
According to AK senior Vice-President in charge of competitions Paul Mutwi, the soon-to-be-introduced jackpot is a significant motivation for many athletes. To qualify, athletes will need to participate in several series, making the event a crucial part of their preparation.
“Machakos is not far from Nairobi, so we are expecting quite a number of athletes before the registration is closed,” Mutwi said in an interview with Citizen Digital.
Defending men’s 10km champion Julius Tanki has confirmed his title defence, having clocked 30:26 in the 10km race last year. World U20 3,000m silver medalist Leonard Kipkemoi Bett, who won the 8km junior race, is also expected to feature in the senior race.
The Machakos meet will kick-start the new Cross Country season, with Sotik hosting the second meet on December 14, Ol Kalaou on December 21, Kapsokwony on December 28, and Iten on January 4. The National Cross Country Championships cum trials for Africa Cross Country Championships will take place on February 8 in Nairobi.
