World Athletics Championships 2025: Inside Kenya’s Bold Bid to End 10,000m Drought

Edwin Kurgat leads Kenya’s young 10,000m squad to Tokyo, eyeing long-awaited World Championship glory after years of near misses.

Over 24 years ago, Kenya last stood atop the podium in the men’s 10,000m at the World Athletics Championships.

That golden moment came in Edmonton, Canada, in 2001, when Charles Kamathi outsprinted Ethiopia’s Assefa Mezgebu and the legendary Haile Gebrselassie to secure the title.

Since then, Kenya has produced countless distance running greats, yet the coveted 10,000m gold has remained out of reach.

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Next week, the East African nation arrives in Tokyo with renewed hope and a fresh generation of athletes determined to restore glory in the 25-lap race.

The men’s 10,000m final, scheduled for September 14, promises to be one of the most captivating battles of the championships.

The Kenyan squad was selected during national trials held at the Prefontaine Classic in the United States on July 5.

Leading the charge is Edwin Kurgat, a US-based runner who made his name as an NCAA champion.

He is joined by Benson Kiplangat, the World Cross Country bronze medallist, and Ishamail Kipkurui, the reigning World U20 Cross Country Champion.

“I want to go out there to compete and impress,” said Kipkurui, who has been sharpening his form at the High-Performance Training Centre in Eldoret, as quoted by Nation.

“Our training has been going on well, and we are aware we have a big task ahead. We are not taking any chances because of the stiff competition we are expecting.”

The Weight of History

Kenya’s history in the men’s 10,000m is storied but streaky. Since the inaugural championships in 1983, the nation has captured three titles — Paul Kipkoech (1987), Moses Tanui (1991), and Kamathi (2001).

In the years since, Kenyans have remained competitive, with silver and bronze medals keeping the flag flying, but the elusive gold has slipped away.

At the 2023 Budapest championships, Daniel Simiu came agonizingly close, finishing second behind Uganda’s Joshua Cheptegei, who sealed his third consecutive title.

Now that Cheptegei is switching to the marathon, Kenya senses an opportunity. Still, Ethiopia, with its long tradition in the 10,000m, looms large as the greatest threat.

“It is a new team and everyone is eager to end Kenya’s drought in the men’s 10,000m race,” explained tactician Gideon Chirchir, who has been guiding the runners in Eldoret.

“However, I have urged them not to forget to work as a team. That is how we will beat our rivals.”

Kurgat, fresh from testing his form at the 2025 Lausanne Diamond League where he finished sixth in the 5,000m, exudes confidence.

“I was using the race to gauge myself. It gave me confidence ahead of Tokyo. We will do well,” he said.

Wisdom From the Past

Former champions and medalists are watching closely, offering words of wisdom to the new generation. Charles Kamathi, whose Edmonton triumph remains etched in Kenyan athletics history, knows what it takes to reach the summit.

“For one to do well and go on top of the world, they must ensure good training. One has to be physically and mentally fit to emerge the winner,” said Kamathi.

“Always relax before the race and stay focussed. Then you will finish on top.”

Paul Tanui, another 10,000m stalwart with three World Championship bronzes, emphasized the importance of closing speed.

“I was very good at lapping, but I had a problem within the last 100 metres. That is where they would beat me. The team must now work on the last 800m because sometimes athletes start kicking in the last two laps, and when they get that right, medals will be home," he noted.

The Road Ahead

Kipkurui, Kiplangat, and Kurgat represent a new wave — runners who have excelled on the global stage at youth and collegiate levels and now seek senior glory.

They face not only Ethiopia’s fierce challenge but also the rising ambitions of non-traditional athletics nations eager to spring a surprise. Yet within the Kenyan camp, optimism simmers.

Team Kenya, having been training in high altitude Eldoret and with international race exposure, and the guidance of seasoned tacticians and legends,they arrives in Tokyo determined to write the next golden chapter.

The question is no longer whether Kenya can return to the top — but whether this new generation can seize its moment on September 14 and end a 24-year drought.