Kenya Miss Mixed Relay Medal for First Time After Back-to-Back Wins as Australia Triumph

Team Kenya were handed a reality check in the mixed relay race at the World Athletics Cross Country Championships in Tallahassee, Florida.

Despite putting in all the effort needed, Team Kenya could only afford a fourth-place finish, missing out on a medal for the first time since the event was introduced in 2017.

Meanwhile, heading into the challenge, Kenya were vying for a fourth title in the mixed relay at the World Athletics Cross Country Championships.

The East African powerhouse has claimed every title in this discipline since its introduction at the World Athletics Cross Country Championships in 2017, falling short only once.

Reynold Cheruiyot, Kyumbe Munguti, and Purity Chepkirui formed three-quarters of Kenya’s victorious team in 2024, and in Florida, that was the main goal.

Reynold Cheruiyot, the world 1500m bronze medallist, entered the race in great form, having won Kenya’s 2km trial race in October, finishing ahead of Kyumbe Munguti, who also secured mixed relay gold for Kenya in 2023.

Purity Chepkirui, the 2021 world U20 1500m champion, had also convincingly won the women’s trial race, looking to replicate the same performance in Florida.

Reynold Cheruiyot led off the Kenyan charge, and from the beginning, he looked great and poised to deliver the baton to Winfred Mbithe. Team USA were also on course to make an impact on home soil, being led off by Ethan Strand.

Silas Chemutai of Uganda was also looking great, conquering the obstacles, with Ethan Strand right alongside him. South Africa's Luann Munik was not left behind.

After 1km, Uganda were still in the lead, with Ethan Strand still holding onto him, but Reynold Cheruiyot then regained the lead a few minutes later. Australia were running in fourth place at this point.

Heading over to the changeover zone, Ethan Strand was going toe-to-toe with Reynold Cheruiyot, but it was the American who handed over the baton first. The Kenyans also lived up to their reputation, having a smooth handover.

Winfred Mbithe also looked poised, running alongside Linden Hall of Australia, who was also in great form. Mbithe has a great record in the relay, and there was no doubt that the race was hers to dominate.

The Americans were struggling a bit, with the Kenyans and Australians controlling the pace of the race and conquering every barrier ahead of them. The South Africans were also in great shape, running just behind the two leaders.

Despite a great showing in the first leg, Team Uganda appeared to be struggling, being overtaken by Canada. Clearing the logs, the Kenyans faced a bit of a hurdle, being forced to slow down a little bit, with Linden Hall using that to her advantage and taking the lead.

Heading to the changeover point, Linden Hall was in the lead, handing over to her compatriot with Team Kenya having slipped to fifth. Team Uganda struggled to make the top five in the handover.

The third leg was also a great showing from Team Australia, with Team Kenya struggling behind in fourth. France and South Africa were running in second and third places.

Into the final leg, Australia were in the lead and started off strongly, looking to claim the gold medal. Kenya and Ethiopia were not battling for a bronze medal.

Team USA were not also resting on their laurels, looking poised to battle it out for a place on the podium. Team Uganda had given up on their medal hopes, trailing in ninth place alongside Canada and Tanzania.

Team Kenya's Purity Chepkirui was running in fourth place, looking to get ahead of Ethiopia and hopefully claim a bronze medal. Team France were running in second and Team USA had been pushed to fifth.

Jessica Hull put in all her effort to claim the win in 22:23 ahead of Team France and Ethiopia, who clocked 22:26 and 22:34. Team Kenya finished fourth.