Chebor, Chebolei lead elite cast for Chepsaita Gold Tour

Chebolei returns to the Senior Men’s 10km as the defending champion after his emphatic 30:49 victory last year, where he held off Robert Kiprop in 30:58 and Mathew Kipkoech in 31:12.

Kiprop, the 2019 All-Africa Games 5000m champion and last year’s runner-up, is back to challenge again, alongside rising star Matthew Kipkoech Kipruto, the World U20 cross-country bronze medallist. 

Uganda’s Martin Kiprotich, who opened his season with a strong second-place finish over 6.9km at the San Sebastian Cross Country Tour Gold event in early November, also enters as one of the men to watch.

The depth of the men’s field reflects how many top track runners are using the cross-country season to build toward the 2026 track year. Former World U-18 1500m champion George Manangoi joins the line-up, together with Botswana’s Lopang Oontse, a two-time national 3000m steeplechase champion, South Africa’s Collins Kgadima, and Djibouti’s Ismael Loukman.

Speed merchant Keyborn Obato, armed with a 28:24 road time, is expected to animate the early pace, while elite marathoners Dominic Kibet (2:05:00) and Peter Cheruiyot (2:06:31) bring endurance power that could shape the race dynamics.

In the Senior Women’s 10km, 2025 Athletics Kenya cross country circuit leader Maurine Chebor arrives as the favourite after back-to-back victories on the AK cross-country tour, including her national title where she clocked 34:17 ahead of Brenda Jepchumba (34:20) and Glorious Jepkirui (34:27).

Chebor is chasing a big statement win on home soil, but she faces strong competition from Uganda’s Rispa Cherop, a world-class mountain and trail runner, and Kenya’s Jackline Rotich, one of the quickest entrants with a 31:27 road personal best. 

Also in contention is Rebecca Mwangi, who won African 10,000m silver last year and the national 5000m title in June, plus South Africa’s Phemelo Matshaba, the 2023 African U20 3000m steeplechase silver medallist.

Organisers have confirmed an attractive prize purse for the third edition. Event director Barnaba Korir says the winners will take home Sh 750,000, 2nd Place: Sh 500,000 ,3rd Place: Sh 350,000 with prize money extending down to 10th place, making Chepsaita one of the most lucrative stops on the cross-country calendar.