Team Kenya tipped for success in World Cross Country championships despite facing harsh weather

Athletics Kenya (AK) Youth Development Director Barnaba Korir believes Kenya will put up a splendid performance at the upcoming World Athletics Cross Country Championships in Tallahassee on Saturday, 10 January, despite facing extreme weather conditions at the Apalachee Regional Park.

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Korir, a former athlete, pins much of his expectations on the team’s competitiveness across all categories, even as the men’s senior team undergoes a transition.

Experienced athletes Daniel Ebenyo and Beatrice Chebet will lead the Kenyan contingent, which will also include new names ready to punch above their weight and extend the country’s dominance in global distance running.

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In 2024, Kenya topped the medal standings at the World Athletics Cross Country Championships in Belgrade, Serbia, securing a total of 11 medals, including six gold, two silver, and three bronze.

Speaking of the new iteration’s chances, Korir said, “Kenya will be going out to defend the title we won in Belgrade last year. I am confident this young group of athletes will deliver good results.”

Noting the differences in this year’s team, the Athletics Kenya Executive member added, “In Belgrade we won the senior women’s title but missed out on the men’s senior crown. Apart from Daniel Ebenyo and Ishmael Kirui, who recently moved up to the senior ranks, the men’s team is very young. I don’t want to put too much pressure on them, but I am sure they will do very well.”

Of much emphasis to the team this year is how it adapts to the cold weather in Tallahassee, which is expected to reach freezing conditions.

Those expectations have resulted in the squad setting camp at St. Mark’s Teachers College, Kigari, in Embu, a destination believed to offer near-similar experiences to those in America.

“We were discussing even about that, especially the garments they are going to wear, because it’s a bit cold,” Korir said. “I’ve also checked in Florida, Tallahassee—it is going to be about 67 degrees in January. It’s not going to be so cold. If it is the northern part of the U.S., I would say it is extremely bad.”

However, Korir believes the team will still prevail.

“We have prepared the athletes for those conditions,” he said. “It [weather] can affect some athletes, but I’m sure that the conditions there are the same as here in the morning and

in the evening.”

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