Shadrack announces next plans after latest win.

Most athletes endure some of the toughest tests to succeed in their sport, and Shadrack Ngumbao is no exception. 

He emerged victorious at the 2025 Athletics Kenya Prisons Cross Country Championships, held at the Ruiru Prisons Staff Training College last weekend. 

This marked Ngumbao’s seventh appearance at the event, and he was hopeful that this time things would be different.

In his previous attempts, Ngumbao faced a lot of disappointment, with his best finish being sixth place in 2023. 

Heading into the 2025 championship, he was uncertain about the outcome, as it had become routine for him to finish outside the podium. 

However, against the odds, he claimed his first victory after years of effort.

Reflecting on his past performances, Ngumbao acknowledged that he needed to work smarter and intensify his training for the challenging competition.

“This is almost my seventh time competing here, and I have never won. My best performance before this win was finishing sixth in 2023. I put in a lot of preparation and managed to train in hilly areas,” Ngumbao said in an interview after the race.

“I also focused on my mindset because cross country requires strategic thinking. I have been training in Ngong under Coach Muteti. I competed in Bomet and finished 20th, and I also participated in Machakos, where I finished fifth.”

He believes that winning the cross country championship has set him up for a promising 2025 season, with plans to focus on road running and possibly the 10,000m. 

The upcoming 2025 World Championships in Tokyo, Japan, are also on his agenda, as he aims to secure a spot on the national team.

“I have prepared well for this season, and my fans can expect the best from me. I will be concentrating on the half marathon and the 10,000m race,” he shared.

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