Kenya: Amref Pick Team for Salzburg Marathon

Nairobi Star (Nairobi)

Muigai Kiguru

12 May 2011

Risper Kimaiyo will lead a team of five athletes representing Africa at the 2011 Salzburg Marathon on May 23 in Austria. Kimaiyo will participate in the full marathon and so will compatriot Victor Chelokoi.

Jedina Mirachi of Ethiopia will line up alongside Sylvia Kipyego of Kenya in the half marathon while Southern Sudan’s Francis Ohisa will battle for honours in the 5,000m. This will be the first time a Southern Sudanese athlete will be taking part in an international running event.

This will be the tenth edition of the event sponsored by Amref as they wish to raise funds to help improve maternal health for African women. The theme for this year’s race is ‘”maternal health’.”Participation of Kenyan runners will be crucial in raising the standards and profile of the event as we hope to raise maximum funds,” said Austrian Ambassador to Kenya Christian Hasenbichler.He was speaking during a send off breakfast for the five athletes at a Nairobi hotel.

Athletics Kenya secretary general David Okeyo highlighted the need for Amref so start such a themed race in the country as he pledged full support for the non-governmental organisation.”If Amref organises such a race in the country, we will proudly support it by putting it in our calendar of events,” said Okeyo.

He also highlighted on the importance of hosting an athletics event in northern Kenya targeting the warring communities in Kenya and neighbours from Ethiopia.

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