Kurgat leads Kenyan trio to World Championship qualification in Oregon
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Reading Time: 2min | Sun. 06.07.25. | 09:47
The race was dominated by Ethiopian athletes, who swept the podium, but Kenya also had reason to celebrate
US-based Kenyan runner Edwin Kurgat delivered a gutsy performance to finish fourth in the men’s 10,000 metres at the Prefontaine Classic in Oregon on Saturday night, securing qualification for the 2025 World Athletics Championships.
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Competing in a highly competitive field at Hayward Field, the 29-year-old ran a personal best of 26:46.35, closing strongly in the final two laps after spending much of the race among the chasing pack.
The race was dominated by Ethiopian athletes, who swept the podium, but Kenya also had reason to celebrate.
Ishmael Kipkurui finished fifth in 26:47.72, while 2021 World U20 champion Benson Kiplangat placed sixth in 26:50.00, both setting new personal bests.
The trio, Kurgat, Kipkurui, and Kiplangat, all met the World Championships qualifying standard of 27:00.00 and, crucially, secured automatic spots on Team Kenya by finishing as the top three Kenyans across the line.
Last month, Athletics Kenya (AK) announced that this year’s Prefontaine Classic would serve as the official trials for the men’s 10,000m and women’s 5000m events ahead of the 2025 World Championships, set for September 13–21 in Tokyo.
The federation explained its decision to stage trials during the Diamond League meeting was based on the event’s competitive nature, offering elite-level opposition and fast racing conditions.
This marks the second consecutive year AK has used the Prefontaine Classic to select a national team.
In 2024, the same approach yielded a historic women’s 10,000m race, where Beatrice Chebet broke the world record in 28:54.14.
Lilian Kasait and Margaret Chelimo also qualified for the Paris Olympics at that meet.
REDEMPTION 🥹
— CITIUS MAG (@CitiusMag) July 5, 2025
After finishing fourth in the @nikepreclassic 10,000m last year and missing out on a qualifying spot on the Kenyan Olympic team (though he later qualified in the 5000m), Edwin Kurgat finishes fourth again this year — but this time as the top Kenyan, in a lifetime… pic.twitter.com/Oqwd72Cj6y
On the men’s side last year, Daniel Mateiko led a Kenyan podium sweep with a 26:50.81 finish, alongside Nicholas Kipkorir and Bernard Kibet.
