Kenya Sets Sights on Hosting World Athletics Cross Country Championships

Kenya has unveiled its intentions to bid for the World Athletics Cross Country Championships in the near future, following the success of the Sirikwa Classic Cross Country Tour held in Eldoret last Saturday.

Barnaba Korir, the event’s director, highlighted the exemplary organization of the gold level meet at Lobo Village, signaling Kenya’s readiness to host the biennial event for the second time since 2007.

The upcoming edition of the championships is scheduled for March 30 in Serbia’s capital, Belgrade, with the United States of America set to host the 2026 event in Tallahassee.

Korir expressed optimism about Kenya’s prospects, stating, “The World Athletics is closely monitoring our events and is eager to see our organizational capabilities. They are considering other opportunities for us given our large fan base, talented athletes, organizational skills, and government support.”

He also credited Athletics Kenya’s proficiency in hosting top athletics events, which enhances Kenya’s potential to host future world events.

Reflecting on the recent event’s success, Korir noted the significance of the meticulous organization, emphasizing Kenya’s strong performance compared to similar events in other countries.

Furthermore, the Sirikwa Classic served as the platform to select Team Kenya for the upcoming Africa Cross Country Championship in Tunisia later this month.

Looking ahead, Kenya aims to submit a bid for the 2029 World Athletics Championships after narrowly missing out on the hosting rights for the 2025 edition to Tokyo.

Nairobi had been among the four bidders for the 2025 event, with Tokyo securing the hosting rights in July 2022.