Over 50 Japan-based athletes set to add flair to weekend’s Nyandarua County Cross-Country championship
By David Macharia, January 23, 2025
Japan-based athletes are set to light up the Nyandarua County Cross Country Championships in Ol Kalou this Saturday, as they go head-to-head with local runners in a fierce battle for slots in the county team ahead of the Central Region Championships which are scheduled to take place a week later in Kangati, Mathira, Nyeri County, according to Nyandarua Athletics Kenya (AK) Secretary Lawrence Miano.
Despite the absence of star names like Eugene World Championships 10,000m silver medallist Stanley Waithaka and Michael Githae due to international engagements.
Waithaka is scheduled to compete in the Hannut Cross Country in Belgium this weekend.
“I will not run in Ol Kalou because I am leaving tomorrow for Belgium, where I will take part in the Hannut Cross Country,” Waithaka told People Sport after a training session at the Nyahururu Stadium on Tuesday.
The 2022 Birmingham Commonwealth Games marathon bronze medalist,Githae, will skip the Nyandarua County Championship as he prepares for the Osaka Marathon, scheduled for mid-next month.
John Kamau, who was expected to be one of the top runners to make the Nyandarua team, will also be unavailable in Ol Kalou as he is set to travel back to Japan to pace in the Hofu Marathon.
“I am leaving this weekend because I will be pacing for 30km in the Hofu Marathon (a World Athletics Elite Label Road Race) on February 1,” Kamau said.
Despite the absence of these runners, the County Championship is still expected to shine.
Japan’s Sedai Ikue High School student Eliud Kahiga may face off against his elder brothers, Bedan Karoki and John Mwangi, if he opts to run in the senior men’s 10km race.
Miano confirmed that Saturday’s competition will feature the usual 6km race for Under-20 girls, 8km for Under-20 boys, and 10km for both senior men and women. There will also be a 2km mixed loop race.
Nyandarua West and Ndaragwa sub-counties are expected to dominate all categories since most of the county’s top athletes reside in these areas due to their proximity to Nyahururu Stadium, which they use for training.
Approximately 50 Japan-based athletes, currently in Nyahururu and its environs for the annual holiday, are expected to either compete on Saturday or cheer on the upcoming athletes vying for county team slots.