Cross Country: South Sudan's Majok wins 2km mixed-sex race

Abraham Majok secured the only win by a foreign athlete (Photo by Javier Silas Omagor)

The 2km mixed-sex cross-country category was always going to deliver a thrilling performance – and it did.  

Pacey running earned Abraham Majok from South Sudan a victory that could be a turning point in his mushrooming career.  

In an action-packed race, Majok broke away from the leading pack with one lap to go.

Behind him was a surging pack comprised of top athletes from Uganda led by Olympian Stephen Kissa. 

With the pace he started the race with, the 23-year-old Majok still needed to dig deep in the end to finish the star-studded race.

Given that guest nations Djibouti, Kenya and Tanzania failed to make a mark in the earlier races, Majok’s victory in the final race of the day offered some respite at the 28^th edition of the National Cross Country Championships. 

“We came here to put up a good show and deliver for our nationals back home and this is such a great honour,” Majok told New Vision Sport. 

It should be noted that Majok has a personal best of 3:40 which was registered at the 2020 Olympics and capable in the 1500m event. 

Majok’s fluent performance aside, compatriot Abraham Guot Thon, 25, also ran exceptionally well as he finished ninth. 

In the women's category, teenager Joan Chebet of Talanta Club came from behind to take the lead on the home straight.

After a somehow congested start, Chebet snaked through the chasing pack and caught up with the leading park before launching an eye-catching breakaway. 

Upon crossing the line she fell to her knees and pointed to the sky.

21-year-old Febia Chemutai finished second while Uganda Wildlife Authority’s Shafik Kirano finished as the overall winner.