By Robert Mutasi 
The fourth edition of the Great Chepsaita Cross Country Run will take place on Saturday, December 5, 2026, at Chepsaita Grounds in Turbo, Uasin Gishu County, as organisers prepare for another major athletics event with a strong focus on education and talent development.
The race, scheduled under the theme “One Race. Countless Possibilities. A Future Full of Promise,” has grown into an international athletics competition since its establishment in 2023.
Organisers say the event continues to provide a platform for athletes to compete while supporting educational opportunities for children from vulnerable backgrounds in the region.
The Great Chepsaita Cross Country was established by its patron, Farouk Kibet, and has since gained recognition on the international athletics calendar. It is one of only two World Athletics Cross Country Tour Gold Label events held in Kenya, alongside the Sirikwa Classic in Eldoret.
The Gold Label status has strengthened the race’s standing in the international athletics circuit, attracting competitors from Kenya and other countries.
The inaugural edition took place on December 2, 2023, with Ishmael Kipkurui winning the men’s race and Edinah Jebitok taking the women’s title.
The competition gained further recognition in 2024 when it was upgraded to Gold Label status. The second edition, held on December 7 that year, attracted more than 9,000 runners. Samwel Masai Chebolei won the men’s race in 30:49, while Uganda’s Loice Chekwemoi claimed the women’s title in 34:32.
The third edition, held on December 6, 2025, attracted athletes representing 41 nationalities and featured a total prize purse of Sh20 million.
Matthew Kipruto and Dorcus Chepkemoi won the men’s and women’s races, respectively, underlining the event’s growing competitiveness.
Beyond competition, the Great Chepsaita Cross Country has established an education programme aimed at helping children from disadvantaged families access schooling.
The initiative, known as “Run for Education,” directs proceeds from the event towards scholarships for vulnerable learners in Turbo and surrounding areas.
The programme reflects the organisers’ efforts to use athletics as a means of expanding educational opportunities while nurturing young sporting talent.
Previous editions have also supported young athletes through a holiday training camp designed to help them develop their running skills.
Elite race winners receive Sh750,000, while the event’s wider prize structure rewards athletes across different categories.
The combination of international competition, youth development and educational support has helped distinguish the Chepsaita race from other athletics events on the local calendar.
The December 5 event is expected to build on the momentum of the previous three editions, which have established Chepsaita as an important destination for cross-country running.
The race also provides an opportunity for emerging athletes to compete alongside established runners, gain experience and pursue higher levels of competition.
For Uasin Gishu County, which has a long history of producing accomplished distance runners, the event adds to the region’s athletics profile and provides a platform for nurturing the next generation of competitors.
With its fourth edition approaching, the Great Chepsaita Cross Country is set to continue combining sporting competition with its wider education mission, keeping young people and community development at the centre of the event.
The organisers’ stated theme places emphasis on the possibilities that athletics can create, particularly for young people seeking opportunities through sport and education.
Eldoret Leo