Chebor, Ng'etich carry Kenya's hopes at World Cross in absence of Chebet
Athletes including (From L) Ethiopia's Fotyen Tesfay, Ethiopia's Ejgayehu Taye, Italy's Nadia Battocletti, Kenya's Beatrice Chebet and Kenya's athlete Agnes Jebet Ngetich compete in the women's 10000m final during the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo on September 13, 2025. (Photo by Jewel SAMAD / AFP)
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Rising star Maurine Chebor will make her Team Kenya debut at Saturday’s World Athletics Cross Country Championships in Tallahassee, with expectations high in the senior women’s race.
The 21-year-old caps a rapid rise this season and lines up alongside world 10km record holder Agnes Ng’etich in a strong Kenyan squad that also includes Caren Chebet, Rebecca Mwangi, Joyline Jepkemoi and Brenda Kenei.
Kenya face the task of defending the senior women’s individual title, a crown they have dominated since 2009.
Kenya’s golden reign was ignited by Florence Kiplagat in Amman, Jordan, in 2009 before Emily Chebet carried the torch with victory in Bydgoszcz, Poland in 2010.
Vivian Cheruiyot extended that dominance in Punta Umbria, Spain, in 2010, before Chebet reclaimed the title in Bydgoszcz in 2013.
The dynasty rolled on in Guiyang, China, in 2015, where the late Agnes Tirop reigned supreme, followed by Irene Cheptai in Kampala, Uganda, in 2017 and Hellen Obiri in Aarhus, Denmark, in 2019.
The last two editions in Bathurst, Australia, 2023 and Belgrade, Serbia, 2024, were emphatically dominated by double world record holder Beatrice Chebet who announced that she would sit out all athletic competitions in 2026 to start a family.
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