World Athletics and Athletics Kenya announced today that they will host a Cross-Country Tour Gold event on February 12 in Eldoret, Kenya in memory of the late Agnes Tirop, who was allegedly murdered by her husband in October.
The cross-country race will be named Memorial Agnes Tirop and will take place annually. The great Kenyan marathoner Eliud Kipchoge was on hand for the announcement, saying it was a shame to name races after young runners who would always compete in events like this. Tirop is a two-time bronze medalist in the 10,000m world and world cross country champion in 2015.
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Triple cross-country world champion Geoffroy Kamworor and holder of the world record for the 10,000m and the women’s half marathon Letesenbet Gidey were heralded as the headliners of the race – with other big names to be added to the entry list in the coming days.
The course features 10 kilometers of hay, hills, logs and water jumps to make it thrilling for fans. The Kenya National Cross Country Championships will be held on the same course three weeks earlier.
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A minute of silence will be reserved for Tirop and his family before the start of the race. The event will mark the first time that Athletics Kenya will host a Gold level Cross Country Tour event.