By Fred Maingi in Nairobi
The Standard Chartered full and half
marathon champions will be up
against each other in the UAP Insurance Ndakaini 42km race slated for
September 15th.
The Standard Chartered full marathon and half marathon champions
Ernest Kebenei and Dennis Kipruto will be battling for the top honours
in the world’s most difficult road race.
Kipruto who set a new course record last year has confirmed his
intentions of retaining the title when he sliced two times World and
Olympic marathon silver medalist Abel Kirui’s record set in 2006 by
five seconds.
Kipruto who finished fifth during the Africa Cross country
championships in Johannesburg last year breasted the tape at 64:02 to
win and set the new record.
Kigali marathon runner up Emily Biwott from Marakwet will also be
defending her title that she secured last after registering for the
event.
Kirui who succeeded the late Beijing Olympic champion Samuel Kamau
Wanjiru as the event’s goodwill ambasadeur together with Berlin
marathon champion and World marathon record holder Patrick Makau will
grace the event.
UAP Insurance Head of Marketing and Distribution Joseph Kamiri said at
least 2,000 runners have registered and was expecting this figure will
surpass the 3,000 mark by the weekend.
“The 21km race is scheduled to be flagged off at 8am while the other
10km, 5km and 3km races will begin at 30 minute intervals thereafter,”
he explained.
He urged the prospective participants to get at the starting early and
added that those who wished to spend the night there will be camping
facilities available.
“We have put affordable rates from Sh200 for the runners wishing to
camp there,” he said.
Kamiri said the event has been boosted by additional sponsors who
include the Water Services Management Board, Uchumi Supermarkets,
Scangroup, Nairobi Bottlers, Athi Water Services Board and the Higher
Education Loans Board (HELB) who have made donations in cash and kind
totaling to Sh3.5 million.
He said the marathon is seeking to raise Sh25 million that will go
towards conservation of the Ndakaini dam and the larger catchment
areas of Aberdare ranges and the Mau forest which are crucial river
sources.
against each other in the UAP Insurance Ndakaini 42km race slated for
September 15th.
The Standard Chartered full marathon and half marathon champions
Ernest Kebenei and Dennis Kipruto will be battling for the top honours
in the world’s most difficult road race.
Kipruto who set a new course record last year has confirmed his
intentions of retaining the title when he sliced two times World and
Olympic marathon silver medalist Abel Kirui’s record set in 2006 by
five seconds.
Kipruto who finished fifth during the Africa Cross country
championships in Johannesburg last year breasted the tape at 64:02 to
win and set the new record.
Kigali marathon runner up Emily Biwott from Marakwet will also be
defending her title that she secured last after registering for the
event.
Kirui who succeeded the late Beijing Olympic champion Samuel Kamau
Wanjiru as the event’s goodwill ambasadeur together with Berlin
marathon champion and World marathon record holder Patrick Makau will
grace the event.
UAP Insurance Head of Marketing and Distribution Joseph Kamiri said at
least 2,000 runners have registered and was expecting this figure will
surpass the 3,000 mark by the weekend.
“The 21km race is scheduled to be flagged off at 8am while the other
10km, 5km and 3km races will begin at 30 minute intervals thereafter,”
he explained.
He urged the prospective participants to get at the starting early and
added that those who wished to spend the night there will be camping
facilities available.
“We have put affordable rates from Sh200 for the runners wishing to
camp there,” he said.
Kamiri said the event has been boosted by additional sponsors who
include the Water Services Management Board, Uchumi Supermarkets,
Scangroup, Nairobi Bottlers, Athi Water Services Board and the Higher
Education Loans Board (HELB) who have made donations in cash and kind
totaling to Sh3.5 million.
He said the marathon is seeking to raise Sh25 million that will go
towards conservation of the Ndakaini dam and the larger catchment
areas of Aberdare ranges and the Mau forest which are crucial river
sources.
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