Superb Agnes Ngetich outshines Anyango, Chebet to bag national cross-country title

Fireworks were witnessed at the 2024 Athletics Kenya (AK) National Cross Country Championships as three of the current best middle-distance runners in the world squared it out for the top prize.

High-flying Emmaculate Anyango, the reigning 5km world record holder Beatrice Chebet and 10km world record holder Agnes Ngetich Jebet raced together for the first time this year.

After slightly more than 30 minutes of an epic battle and tension in the event staged at the Kenya Prisons Staff Training College in Ruiru, Ngetich had the last laughter.

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The Kapkenda Girls High School alumni outpaced her close friend Anyango in the final stages of the hotly contested race to clinch the coveted title.

She broke the tape in an encouraging time of 31:50.9 with the Iten-based Anyango following closely in 31:53.1.

Lilian Kasait managed to register a third-place position after crossing the finishing line in a time of 31:56.3 ahead of Chebet who clocked 31:59.7.

Speaking during the post-race interview, Ngetich acknowledged that the showdown was not easy for her.

“In the leading pack, we had a very strong team. The course was okay but the race was competitive,” she commented.

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In the men’s category, Sebastian Sawe ruled the day after overcoming a star-studded field that also had the likes of three-time world champion Geoffrey Kamworor.

Sawe ran a calculated race to win the title ahead of Samuel Chebole and Gideon Rono with Kamworor settling for the fourth-place position.

The 2023 world road running championships winner clocked 28:38.3 while Chebole and Rono crossed the finishing line in 28:38.9 and 28:41.9 respectively.

Meanwhile, Samuel Kibathi and Sheila Chebet showed nerves of steel to triumph in the junior men and female categories.

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Chebet overpowered the likes of Nancy Cherop and Deborah Chemutai to clinch the women’s 6km title. She stopped her stopwatch at 19:30.4 while Chemutai and Cherop clocked 19:31.8 and 19:33.4 respectively.

On the other hand, Kibathi eloped with the 8km men’s title after crossing the finishing line in 22:37.7 with Charles Rotich and Mathew Kipruto clocking 22:38.9 and 22:44.4 to complete the podium-place finishes.

AK was expected to name a team that will represent the country in the upcoming 2024 World Athletics Cross Country Championships slated for Saturday, March 30 in Belgrade, Serbia

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2024 National Cross Country Championships results

10km senior women category

Agnes Ngetich Jebet – 31:50.9

Emmaculate Anyango – 31:53.1

Lilian Kasait – 31:56.3

Beatrice Chebet – 31:59.7

10km senior men category

Sebastian Sawe – 28:38.3

Samuel Chebolei – 28:38.9

Gideon Rono – 28:41.9

8km junior men category

Samuel Kibathi – 22:37.7

Charles Rotich – 22:38.9

Mathew Kipruto – 22:44.4

6km junior women category

Sheila Chebet – 19:30.4

Deborah Chemutai – 19:31.8

Nancy Cherop – 19:33.4