By Athletics Kenya
The 2023 World 10,000m silver medallist Daniel Simiu Ebenyo will be out to reclaim his national crown when the country’s finest road and cross-country specialists converge at the Eldoret Sports Club for the National Cross Country Championships on Saturday, October 25, 2025.
Saturday’s high-stakes showdown will also double up as Athletics Kenya’s selection trials for the World Cross Country Championships set for January 10 in Tallahassee, Florida, with places in Team Kenya on the line.
At last season’s edition held on the same course on February 8, Simiu stamped his authority with a commanding victory, clocking 30:48 to seize the title ahead of Nickson Kogei (30:53) and Simon Mungai (30:56).
In the women’s race, Brillian Kipkoech reigned supreme, cutting the tape in 34:30 ahead of Maurine Chebor (34:33) and Stacey Ndiwa (34:55).
This year, Simiu headlines a star-studded men’s senior 10km field, entering the race with an impressive 2025 cross-country resume.
After clinching the national crown in February, he maintained his winning momentum by capturing the Sirikwa Classic Cross Country Tour-Gold title a fortnight later, clocking 29:57 to outlast Gideon Rono (30:07) and Nicholas Kipkorir (30:15).
However, he approaches Saturday’s contest with redemption on his mind following a disappointing outing at the Chicago Marathon on October 12, where he placed 13th in 2:07:52.
Who is Daniel Simiu’s threat at the National Cross Country Championships?
Looking to halt Simiu’s charge to back-to-back titles is 20-year-old rising star Silas Senchura, who heads into the championships in blistering form after dominating the AK Roysambu Cross Country, where he clocked 30:25 to win the men’s 10km.
Also in the mix is half-marathon specialist Alex Matata, who is chasing his maiden appearance in national colours.
NCAA 10,000m champion Ishmael Rokito, fresh from a maiden appearance at the Tokyo World Championships, will also be in contention.
In the women’s senior race, Maurine Chebor will be the athlete to watch as she seeks to upgrade last year’s silver finish to gold.
Chebor has already shown remarkable consistency this season, having stormed to victory in the Machakos leg of the AK Cross Country Circuit with a time of 30:37.
Standing in her way is Diana Wanza, fresh from her triumph at the Roysambu Cross Country, where she clocked 35:35.
“I’ll sit down with my coach, assess my strengths and weaknesses, and work on them. The goal is to be at my best for the nationals,” Wanza said after her Roysambu win.
Adding further spice to the women’s lineup are Tokyo Legacy Half Marathon champion Rebecca Mwangi, New Delhi Half Marathon winner Lilian Kasait, Caren Chebet, Sandrafelis Chebet, and Gladys Kwamboka, all eager to secure a slot on the plane to Florida.
The boys’ U-20 8km race promises fireworks as World U-20 5,000m champion Andrew Alamisi faces off with Kelvin Kiprop and Emmanuel Lemiso.
Lemiso, meanwhile, heads to Eldoret buoyed by his Roysambu U-20 victory in 24:13, confident that the experience has honed his form.
“You must work hard to get results. I ran a smart race, and I hope to win again at the nationals,” Lemiso remarked after his triumph.
In the 2km loop contests, World 800m champion Lilian Odira headlines the women’s race, while World 1,500m bronze medallist Reynold Cheruiyot will be the main attraction in the men’s showdown.
