Athletics Kenya release 2022/2023 Cross Country season calendar

Athletics Kenya (AK) has released the full calendar for the 2022/2023 Cross Country season that will start in October and culminate in January 2023 where Kenya is expected to then select a team for the World Cross Country Championships set to take place in Bathurst, Australia in February next year.

According to the schedule, the season will start on October 15 with the first race being hosted at the Machakos People’s Park.

Twelve more races will then follow in different parts of the country before the National Cross Country Championships that will take place at the Kenya Prisons Training College in Ruiru in January 2023.

"The AK Cross Country season will start off with the first event scheduled to take place on 15th October 2022 at the Machakos People’s Park in Machakos,” the statement from AK read.

After the national event, Kenya will welcome athletes at the Sirikwa Cross Country Classic – a World Cross Country Tour (Gold level) race - in Eldoret on 11 February 2023.

Elsewhere, the awaited Isaiah Kiplagat Ndalat Gaa Cross County Championships that was to take place at Ndalat, Nandi County this Saturday has been postponed indefinitely.

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The race, which normally marks the start of the athletics season, has not been held over the past two years because of the coronavirus pandemic. This year’ edition is understood to have been postponed due to sponsorship issues.

“We had to postpone the race due to sponsorship issues and we shall be announcing a new date once we are ready and the prize money is available. It is always good to pay athletes on time especially on the local races,” Athletics Kenya (AK) Central Rift chairman Abraham Mutai is quoted on Nation.

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Athletes will also be looking forward to the second edition of the World Cross Country Tour in Eldoret, Uasin Gishu County on February 4, 2023.

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2022/2023 Season Calendar

15 Oct 2022 - 1 AK Cross Country Build up Competition (Machakos People’s Park)

29 Oct 2022 - 2nd AK Cross Country Build up Competition (Kapsokwony)

12 Nov 2022 - 3rd AK Cross Country Build up Competition (Sotik)

26 Nov 22 - 4th AK Cross Country Build up Competition (Olkalau)

10 Dec 2022 - 5 AK Cross Country Build up Competition (Iten)

17 Dec 2022 - County Cross Country Championships (All Counties)

17 Dec 2022 - Kenya Prisons Service Cross Country Championships (Kenya Prisons Training College)

6 Jan 2023 - Kenya Defence Forces Cross Country Championships (Ulinzi Sports Complex, Langata)

6 Jan 2023 - National Police Service Cross Country Championships (Ngong Racecourse)

7 Jan 2023 - University Cross Country Championships (Kabarak University)

7 Jan 2023 - National Youth Service Cross Country Championships (Ngong Racecourse)

7 Jan 2023 - Kenya Wildlife Services Cross Country Championships (Lobo Village, Eldoret)

By 7 Jan 2023 - Regional Cross Country Championships (All regions

21 Jan 2023 - AK National Cross-Country Championships (Kenya Prisons Training College Ruiru)

4 Feb 2023 - Sirikwa Classic Cross Country Tour – Gold (Lobo Village, Eldoret)

18 Feb 2023 - World Athletics Cross Country Championships Bathurst (AUS)