Sirikwa Classic Returns on Valentine’s Day with Record Prize Money and Global Star Power

ELDORET, Kenya, Feb 6 2027—On Valentine’s Day, as much of the world marks love and romance, the highlands of western Kenya will once again become the epicentre of global cross-country running.

The Absa Sirikwa Classic Cross-Country returns to Lobo, Uasin Gishu County, on February 14, bringing together elite athletes, rising talents, and thousands of recreational runners for one of the most prestigious events on the international athletics calendar.

Now in its fifth edition, the race has firmly established itself as more than a competition — it is a statement of Kenya’s growing role not just as a producer of champions, but as a global host shaping the future of the sport.

Kennedy Tanui, Competition Director for the Sirikwa Classic, says the event has reached a level where it now competes with the world’s most respected cross-country races.

Kennedy Tanui, Competition Director for the Sirikwa Classic

“This time round, we are doing everything required to deliver a fully international event,” Tanui said. “Sirikwa is about returning athletics to its cradle while meeting the highest global standards.”

From Kenya’s Highlands to the World Stage

The Sirikwa Classic has once again earned World Athletics Gold Label status, a designation awarded to only a handful of cross-country events worldwide that meet strict technical, organisational, and competitive benchmarks. This will be the third time the race has achieved Gold Label recognition, underscoring its rapid rise in global stature.

The 2026 edition will feature the largest prize purse ever offered in cross-country running, with total prize money exceeding KSh 20 million (approximately USD 150,000). Winners in the senior races are set to earn close to KSh 750,000 (USD 6,000) — a significant incentive that has attracted a deep and diverse elite field.

At least 14 nationalities have confirmed participation, including athletes from Ethiopia, Uganda, the United States, China, and Israel. Defending champion Daniel Simiu will return to Lobo, joined by Agnes Ngetich, the women’s 10km world record holder, and Olympic 800m champion Emmanuel Wanyonyi, who is set to compete in the newly introduced 2km loop designed to accommodate middle-distance runners.

Emmanuel Wanyonyi, Olympic 800m champion

The race programme includes senior men’s and women’s 10km events, under-20 races, and multiple community categories, ensuring both elite performance and broad participation.

More Than a Race: Youth Pathways, Tourism and Legacy

Beyond elite competition, the Sirikwa Classic has become a model for how high-performance sport can intersect with youth development and economic impact.

Children as young as five will line up alongside teenagers and under-20 athletes, a structure that Tanui says aligns with World Athletics’ long-term athlete development framework. “When children run from age five all the way to senior level, it means the whole society is running,” he said. Organisers expect more than 5,000 participants, including over 2,000 elite athletes.

The event has also emerged as a powerful driver of sports tourism in Kenya’s North Rift region. Organisers estimate that visitors to Eldoret during last year’s edition spent close to KSh 1 billion over the race weekend alone, with hotels already nearing full capacity ahead of this year’s event.

Lobo’s strategic location — adjacent to Eldoret International Airport and connected by new road infrastructure — has strengthened its appeal to international visitors, many of whom combine competition with travel across Eldoret, Iten, and surrounding towns.

Backed by long-term sponsor Absa, alongside the Kenya Sports Fund, Coca-Cola, and Athletics Kenya, the Sirikwa Classic will be broadcast globally, further amplifying Kenya’s influence in world athletics.

For organisers, however, the race’s meaning extends beyond medals and money.

“Everyone who finishes will receive a flower,” Tanui said. “Sirikwa is a celebration of athletics, community, and love.”