Over three hundred junior athletes are expected to face off at the inaugural Cheptigit Cross Country Challenge set for Saturday September 20th at the Complete Sports Centre in Kaptagat, Uasin Gishu County.
Themed “Education and Sports”, race director led by Complete Sports Athletics Training Centre Japheth Kimutai said that the event will cater for secondary school going student and primary school children for future elite runners.
Kimutai said that as they focus in sports and education, Complete Sports and Germany Embassy in Kenya have secured a sponsorship for the cross country.
“This is something new and we are privileged to get sponsorship for the race. We are lucky that we shall have their school fees covered. Parents and teachers are eager to bring their students to compete. We are also creating friendship between Kenya and Germany through sports,” said Kimutai.
Apart from the Saturday cross country, the Germany Embassy will be sponsoring Berlin Marathon Watch Party in Eldoret town come Sunday September 21st 2025.
“Each one of is eagerly waiting for the big party and watch party in Eldoret town. We chose students because we are nurturing them since majority of them will one day will compete at the Berlin marathon. We are also encouraging kids to be part of this event,” added Kimutai.
According to Kimutai, the sponsorship came in kind where top three finishers will have their fees paid or partially paid. The winners will earn a whole year school fees, second placed two terms and third finisher one term. We are mostly targeting form three coming down because those in form four, may not be available next year,” said Kimutai.
He said that they shall have a race each year, a day before Berlin marathon and all where cross country winners shall be rewarded at the watch party.
“If we all come together, we shall support our young people and we shall bear witness about them and as the young grows, they will grow to be great athletes and conquer the globe. As Complete Sports, we are here to help, support and nurture talents. We have managed to secure a number of students to the USA. At the moment, we have managed to nurture both Olympic and world champion Emmanuel Korir and we the ongoing World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, we have seven 7 athletes,” he added.
With Berlin recording high speed, Kimutai said the it is a fast course to get good results.
“We want to be part of these races and may be in future, those students, we shall push them to watch and sponsored to travel and watch the race live,” he said adding that as facility, invited different schools, and the schools id their selection on who to compete and we want to see which school is doing well.