As the World Athletics Cross Country Championships loom in Tallahassee, Florida, Team Kenya finds itself running not just for gold, but for a ghost. The squad is galvanized by the memory of the late Agnes Tirop, whose tragic death remains a scar on the sport, but whose fighting spirit has become the team’s rallying cry.

While headlines have confusingly referenced "Tirop leading the team," it is actually world record-holder Agnes Ngetich who spearheads the charge. Ngetich, along with rising stars, carries the baton of a dynasty that Tirop helped build. The mission is clear: defend the senior women’s team title and bring the trophy home to a nation that views cross-country as its backyard.

The Squad's Depth

Despite the absence of Beatrice Chebet, Kenya’s lineup is terrifyingly strong. Agnes Ngetich, fresh from shattering road records, is the favorite. She is supported by a tactical pack designed to dismantle the Ethiopian threat through team scoring.

• The Strategy: "We run as a pack, we win as a nation," said head coach Julius Kirwa. The ghost of Tirop—who won gold in 2015—looms large. Her legacy of fearlessness is being used to motivate the younger athletes facing their first global test.
• The Opposition: Ethiopia has fielded a strong team, and Uganda’s Joshua Cheptegei-inspired resurgence makes the men’s race a brutal East African derby. But for the women, it is Kenya’s title to lose.
• Beyond the Track: The team is also running a silent campaign against Gender-Based Violence (GBV), the scourge that took Tirop. Every medal won is a statement that Kenya’s women will not be silenced.

Tallahassee Awaits

The course in Florida is fast and flat—perfect for Ngetich’s speed. As Kenyans stay up late to watch, the hope is that the spirit of Tirop will guide Ngetich to the finish line first.