After a string of near-misses in his young career, Frankline Kibet finally struck gold on his global championships debut, winning the U20 men’s race at the World Athletics Cross Country Championships Tallahassee 26 on Saturday .
Kibet, 18, had previously finished second at the Kenyan Cross Country Championships in February last year, as well as at the 5000m trials for the African U20 Championships. He also placed runner-up in Kenya’s trial race for the World Cross at the end of 2025. Despite these setbacks, Kibet timed his effort to perfection in Tallahassee, surging ahead in the final stretch to claim gold in 23:18.
U20 Men’s Individual Results:
🥇 Frankline Kibet (KEN) – 23:18
🥈 Emmanuel Kiprono (KEN) – 23:20
🥉 Andrew Alamisi (KEN) – 23:28
4 Andrew Kiptoo (KEN) – 23:42
5 Abraham Cherotich (UGA) – 23:47
6 Brian Kiptarus (KEN) – 23:49
7 Daniel Chelogoi (UGA) – 23:51
8 Edwin Elkana (KEN) – 24:00
9 Solomon Andiema (UGA) – 24:01
10 Dan Kipyeko (UGA) – 24:02
While all eyes were on Kenyan Trials winner Kiprono and world U20 5000m champion Alamisi, it was Kibet who delivered the decisive move. The race remained tightly contested until the final lap, with a large pack, including Belgium’s European U20 champion Willem Renders and Uganda’s Abraham Cherotich, vying for the lead.
With just one lap to go, Kenya’s top quartet surged ahead, and Kibet unleashed a blistering kick in the closing metres to claim victory, followed closely by Kiprono and Alamisi. Kiptoo’s fourth-place finish ensured Kenya secured a perfect team gold score.
“I am very happy with my victory and the team gold,” said Kibet.
“We trained together, so it is good to celebrate as a team. The course was tough, but I was determined and trained well, primarily focused on speed.”
Uganda claimed team silver, led by Cherotich, while hosts USA repeated their team bronze finish from 2023. Kenya’s 1-2-3-4 sweep of the U20 men’s medals marks the sixth time the nation has achieved the feat in World Cross history, joining the ranks of 1993, 2000, 2005, 2007, and 2010, an accomplishment no other nation has matched.
