Africa-Press – Kenya. Double world record holder Beatrice Chebet is set to miss the 46th edition of the World Cross Country Championships in Tallahassee, Florida, set for January 10, dealing Team Kenya a significant blow ahead of the global showdown.
Chebet had earlier been confirmed as part of the Kenyan contingent during the National Cross Country Championships held at the Eldoret Sports Club on October 25.
However, when the final team list was unveiled, Chebet’s name was missing from the roster, ruling out a hat-trick attempt for the 25-year-old.
With Chebet sidelined, Kenya’s medal hopes in the senior women’s race will now rest heavily on World 10km record holder Agnes Ng’etich.
Also named in the senior women’s line-up are rising star Marion Chebor, Caren Chebet, Joyline Chepkemoi, Brenda Jepchumba and Rebecca Mwangi, a youthful and hungry squad tasked with sustaining Kenya’s rich cross-country legacy.
Chebet claimed her maiden World Cross Country crown in Bathurst, Australia, in 2023, powering through the tough course to stop the clock at 33:48. Ethiopia’s Tsigie Gebreselama followed in second in 33:56, with Ng’etich rounding off the podium in 34:00.
Beyond her individual brilliance, Chebet was instrumental in Kenya’s overall triumph in Bathurst, anchoring the team to the women’s title with a low score of 16, ahead of Ethiopia (25) and Uganda (41). She then successfully defended her title last year in Belgrade, Serbia, clocking a commanding 31:05 to spearhead a dominant Kenyan top-five finish.
Lilian Kasait settled for silver in 31:08, while Margaret Kipkemboi completed the podium in 31:09. As in Bathurst, Chebet again played a central role in Kenya’s team success, helping the country scoop the overall women’s title with an even more emphatic score of 10, with Ethiopia (41) and Uganda (44) trailing.
Despite Chebet’s absence, Athletics Kenya official Barnaba Korir remains confident that the team is well equipped to challenge for honours, pointing to Ng’etich as a proven contender. “For the women’s race, I believe we are well covered. We have Ng’etich, who finished fifth last year,” Korir said. “The squad is also young, so we expect them to do a good job.”
Korir further stressed that Kenya will be gunning to defend the overall title won in Belgrade, banking on depth, youth and championship pedigree. Kenya will be going out to defend the title we won in Belgrade last year. ” I am confident this young group of athletes will deliver good results,” he added.
At the previous edition of the championships in Belgrade, Serbia, Kenya topped the medal table after hauling in an impressive 11 medals (six gold, two silver and three bronze).
