Rules of the game set as Eldoret lays ground for cross country show

The rules of the game have been set as athletes prepare to contest in the 2025 National Cross Country title in Eldoret on February 8.

Athletics stars, the best six from Athletics Kenya (AK) regional events and those representing affiliates, have been asked to compete under strict guidelines established to curb age cheating and guarantee fair play during the Eldoret showpiece.

The rules released by AK state that athletes, who have qualified for the National Cross Country Championships, must have been officially registered and licensed by the federation.

The national governing body has, for nearly a year now, been registering Kenyan athletes in its bid to have a database of all upcoming and experienced runners and to support the Anti-Doping Agency of Kenya (ADAK) in efforts to tame the doping menace.

“All athletes to represent a region must be duly registered by AK in the ongoing athletes’ registration and issued with a license number,” a communication by AK Chief Administrative Officer Susan Kamau says in part.

On top of the official registration of athletes, big shots have also been directed to collect their racing numbers in person.

The practice was introduced in recent years as part of efforts to minimise cheating in the sport.

“Athletes will be required to personally collect their running numbers…,” the administrative official said.

The rules give junior athletes born between 2006 and 2009 the latitude to participate in senior races, a move that will allow Under-20 stars to challenge their experienced counterparts for the top honours in the Saturday contest.

Athletes aged Under-16 years will not, according to the guidelines, be allowed to compete at the National Cross Country Championships.

“No athlete aged less than 16 years on December 31 (those who were born in 2010 and after) will be allowed to enter any race,” said Kamau.

Previously, the country’s Under-16s have turned tables in the national and global arena.

One example is Kenyan great Sally Barsosio who became the youngest medallist at the 1993 World Championships in Stuttgart aged 14 years and 182 days.

Already, top stakeholders in athletics are predicting a strong competition at the National Cross Country Championships being staged at the Eldoret Sports Club for the second time since 2019.

Veteran coach Bro Colm O’Connell told Standard Sport that a spectacular showdown would be the order of the day when the City of Champions hosts the national event.

According to the Iten-based O’Connell, pressure to succeed at home will propel athletics stars to impress enthusiasts as well as friends and relatives who will be on the sidelines, cheering them.

“Having the National Cross Country event in Eldoret, where the majority of the participating athletes call home is special. The atmosphere will be fantastic and don’t forget the pressure not to disappoint at home,” the father of athletics training said.

Athletes will be looking to dazzle in the10km senior men and women’s race while the Under-20s are eying prestigious spots in the 8km (men) and 6km (women).

An exciting 2km loop which has been dominated by 800m and 1500m athletes will also be among events in the national extravaganza.