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| Athlete Faith Kipyegon |
Three-time Olympic 1500m gold medallist Faith Kipyegon was unable to complete her first race of the season at the Sirikwa Classic Cross Country Race in Eldoret on Saturday, 22 February.
The event, held under tough conditions of heat, dust and dry terrain, saw Kipyegon withdraw with one lap to go.
Competing in her first race since winning the Athlos NYC meeting in New York last September, Kipyegon was trailing 10km road world record holder Agnes Jebet Ngetich, who dominated the women’s 10km senior race, clocking 32 minutes 42 seconds to secure victory.
After completing the third of the five-lap course, the four-time world champion, wearing a cooling headband, began to slow down before stopping at a spot where her daughter Alyn was watching.
She then opted to withdraw from the race, marking an unexpected end to her return to competition.
Kipyegon’s last appearance at the Sirikwa Classic in 2023 resulted in a victory that set the stage for one of the most dominant seasons in athletics history.
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| Faith Kipyegon |
She went on to break multiple world records, including the 1500m, mile, and 5000m, and secured major titles at the World Athletics Championships, Diamond League, and the Paris Olympics.
Her Eldoret withdrawal came as a surprise because her presence had been a big draw for followers and athletics enthusiasts alike.
The tough weather conditions appeared to take their toll, but no reason has been given for why she pulled out.
Meanwhile, Agnes Ngetich, 24, continued her impressive form, setting the fastest lap of the race at six minutes and 18 seconds and finishing more than a minute ahead of second-placed Janeth Chepngetich (33:52) and third-placed Miriam Chebet (34:09).
Ngetich’s victory marks a major improvement from her 17th-place finish in the inaugural edition of the Sirikwa Classic in 2022, as she now sets her sights on a return to the World Championships.
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