James Minudi
17 December 2011
After last month’s Kenya Airways Mara Half Marathon, distance running action shifts to Kisumu on Sunday for the annual Safaricom Kisumu Marathon.
Athletes started arriving in Kisumu on Thursday morning for this year’s race that will cover 42.195 kilometres.
The defending champions from last year, Joseph Biwott from Iten and Lilian Chelimo from Eldoret, will both be seeking to retain their titles.
Other elite runners drawn from Iten, Kapsabet and Eldoret have been at the Jomo Kenyatta Sports ground for registration since Thursday.
“I am back in Kisumu city for one mission – to defend my title and which I am sure I will do,” said Biwott. “I expect the race to be tough this year.”
In last year’s race, Biwott won in two hours, 17 minutes and 11 seconds while Chelimo finished the women’s race ahead of the pack in 2:46.16.
Marking the route
Justus Mogere, who won the inaugural Tom Mboya Memorial Race, half marathon held recently on Rusinga Island, is one of the main challengers.
Others include Declerk Omari, the runner up in Rusinga from Nyamira County who finished third last year.
Omari also won this year’s Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Memorial Road Race which was held in Bondo.
Race Director Peter Angwenyi of Athletics Kenya and his team have been busy this week marking the route from Awasi Shopping Centre to the Jomo Kenyatta Sports Ground in Kisumu where the race will finish.
Angwenyi, also AK’s Nyanza South chairman, said he expected this year the race to be tough because of Kisumu’s heat and humidity.
AK’s Nyanza North official Jared Gilo added that the registration will continue until 6.30am on Sunday at the Jomo Kenyatta Sports Ground where the 42km runners will pay Sh300 for registration.
Athletes competing in the 10-kilometre race are paying Sh100 for registration.
Safaricom are this year’s title sponsors with the winners pocketing Sh200,00, runners’ up Sh100,000 while the third placed runners will pocket Sh50,000.
Fourth placed runners will earn Sh,30,000 with Sh20,000 for fourth placed runners.
The prices will go down to 10th place. Local runners will get special consideration. “We want to inspire our locals also to take up road racing,” said James Rapenda.
Chief guest
The race will be flagged off from Awasi Trading Centre along the Kisumu-Nairobi road at 7.00am by the Nyanza police boss Njue Njagi while the chief guest will be Athletics Kenya chairman, Isaiah Kiplagat and secretary general, David Okeyo.
The athletes will go towards Kisumu through Ahero Trading Centre, Korowe, Number Okana and on to Rabuor from where they will proceed to Alendu, Nyamasaria, Kachok and to the finishing point at the Jomo Kenyatta Sports Ground in Kisumu town.
AllAfrica – All the Time