In the men’s race, Daniel Ebenyo Simiu continued his impressive form by defending his title in the 10km event.
Triple Olympic champion Faith Kipyegon was forced to withdraw from the senior women’s 10km race at the Sirikwa Classic, which took place in the scorching heat and challenging terrain of Lobo Village on Saturday. Kipyegon, competing in her first race of the season, was comfortably positioned in second place before she unexpectedly dropped out. While the reason for her withdrawal remains unclear, the tough conditions likely played a role.
With Kipyegon out of the race, it was Agnes Ngetich who seized the opportunity, finishing first in a time of 32:42. Despite the fierce competition and harsh weather, Ngetich held her own, securing the victory ahead of Janet Chepng’etich (33:52) and Miriam Chebet (34:09), who took second and third place, respectively.
“I wasn’t even expecting to win,” Ngetich admitted after crossing the finish line. “The race was very competitive, with elite athletes in the lineup, and the weather was also unfavorable. I thank God for enabling me to win."
Ngetich, who has her sights set on the World Championships in Tokyo later this year, reflected on the importance of cross-country racing as part of her preparation for the long track season. She remains uncertain whether she will focus on the 5,000m or 10,000m at the championships, depending on how her body responds leading up to the national trials.
“I ran my race and I have so much respect for Faith. She is both a mentor and like a mother to me,” said Ngetich, acknowledging Kipyegon’s influence in her career. “It’s unfortunate that she didn’t finish the race.”
In the men’s race, Daniel Ebenyo Simiu continued his impressive form by defending his title in the 10km event. The Commonwealth Games 10,000m silver medalist clocked a time of 29:57, finishing ahead of Gideon Rono (30:07) and Nicholas Kimeli (30:15), who claimed second and third place, respectively.
Simiu’s victory marks his second consecutive triumph at the Sirikwa Classic, following his win at the National Cross Country Championships in Eldoret two weeks ago. “It’s been a successful season, and I’m happy with how I’ve performed,” Simiu said, expressing his joy at defending his title and closing out a strong cross-country season.