Rift Valley stamped its authority early at the 2026 Brookside Kenya Secondary Schools Sports Association (KSSSA) National Term One Games, sweeping the girls’ cross country podium in a commanding display that set the tone for the championship.
In a fiercely contested girls’ race, Venencia Chebet Masai of Kongit Secondary School stormed to victory, leading a Rift Valley clean sweep of the podium. Naomi Chepkemoi of Kiburma Secondary School followed closely in second place, while Celestine Mantaine from Cheptigit Secondary School sealed third position, capping a dominant outing for the region renowned for producing long-distance champions.
The race, held under intense competition, brought together top school athletes from across the country, all battling for national glory. Despite the commanding performance by Rift Valley, athletes from Western, Eastern, and Central regions showed resilience, keeping the leaders within reach for much of the race.
Western Region’s Purity Chemutai and Eastern’s Faith Wanyama were among the standout challengers, putting up strong performances to break into the top ranks and underline the growing competitiveness of the national school circuit.
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Team standings further reflected Rift Valley’s superiority, with multiple runners finishing in the top ten to secure a comfortable lead over their closest rivals. Their depth and consistency once again proved decisive on the national stage.
Nairobi and Coast regions also registered notable improvements, with several athletes finishing within the top 20 positions, an encouraging sign for regions traditionally outside Kenya’s long-distance strongholds.
KSSSA officials lauded the level of competition, terming it a true reflection of Kenya’s rich athletics pipeline. The cross country event not only set the tone for the national games but also offered a glimpse into the future of the country’s distance running.
With coaches closely monitoring performances, several athletes are now firmly on the radar for progression into higher levels of competition.
The cross country showdown has set a high competitive bar, attention now shifts to track and field and other disciplines, where challengers will be looking to halt Rift Valley’s early dominance. But for now, the message from the opening event is unmistakable, Rift Valley remains firmly in control.
By Godfrey Wamalwa
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