THE SIRIKWA CLASSIC

Event Overview

The Sirikwa Classic (officially known as the Sirikwa Classic Cross Country) is an annual international cross-country running event held in Eldoret, Kenya — one of the world’s great centres of distance running. It takes place on varied natural terrain in Lobo Village, Kapseret, drawing elite, national, and international runners across multiple race categories.

The race honors Sirikwa, a figure from local legend tied to the ancient Sirikwa people of the region, blending athletic competition with cultural heritage and community celebration.

World Cross Country Tour Gold Status

The Sirikwa Classic is classified as a Gold-level event on the World Athletics Cross Country Tour — the highest tier in the international cross-country circuit.

What Gold Status Means

Elite competition: Gold-level races attract top international and Kenyan athletes and offer more world ranking points than Silver or Bronze events.
Global recognition: It’s part of a select series of about a dozen top cross-country races worldwide each season, helping athletes gain ranking points and qualification advantages for larger championships.
High performance expectations: Organizers follow strict technical, safety, and anti-doping standards aligned with World Athletics and Athletics Kenya rules.

The Gold status elevates Sirikwa Classic’s prestige and competitiveness on the world stage, alongside a growing roster of global cross-country meets.

Pamela Kosgei leads a pack in the gilrs under 18 5km race.JPG

A Brief History

Early Years (2022–2023)

First edition: The event began in 2022 as the Agnes Tirop Memorial Cross Country, named after Kenya’s celebrated world champion.
Name change: In 2023, it was rebranded as the Sirikwa Classic, drawing on local heritage and broadening its identity.

Growth and Recognition

From its early editions, the Sirikwa Classic quickly became part of the World Athletics Cross Country Tour, achieving Gold status, a designation it has maintained as the race grew in size and international reach.

Recent Editions

By the 2025 edition, the race had matured into a major global meet, supported by title sponsorship (e.g., Absa Bank), attracting hundreds of elite runners from Kenya and abroad and featuring expanded prize money and broader participation.
Events have included senior and youth races, with prize distribution expanded to reward many finishers and boost athlete incentives.

Legacy & Impact

The Sirikwa Classic now stands not just as a competitive cross-country, but as:

A key international athletics event on the World Athletics Calendar.
A platform for upcoming runners to compete with world-class talent.
A celebration of Kenyan running heritage and local culture in Eldoret.