Chris Musumba
5 November 2009
Nairobi — Organisers of the Maasai Mara marathon have switched dates to November 22 and avoided a showdown with Athletics Kenya.
The change of dates was agreed on after a meeting between the Maasai Mara Marathon organisers led by technical director John Konchellah, his brother Billy Konchellah, the former world 800m champion, Douglas Wakiihuri and Athletics Kenya.
"We have since harmonised our calendars and agreed to have the race on November 22. It will be a 21-km race and so it will not coincide with the Nyeri Half Marathon on November 29," said Kiplagat.
The main attraction at the Nyeri Half Marathon will be former world marathon champion Luke Kibet and Jane Murage who will lead over 1,500 athletes in the Safaricom-sponsored race. Kibet, who is also the Singapore Marathon champion, will use the event as his final training before heading to Asia to defend his title. Anthony Maina, head of the organising committee for the event, said just like last year, they expect to attract one of the top athletes to grace the race.
Last year, Ethiopia's Meseret Defar was the chief guest and it was hinted that one of the fastest marathon runners might make the trip. The event has attracted sponsorship from Safaricom to the tune of Sh918,000, which is over Sh300,000 more than last year with both British Airways and American sports manufacturing giant Nike coming on board.
Highlands Waters will be the official water provider and will man all the water stations for the entire 21kms. The event, now in its 13th edition, and the sixth since partnering with Safaricom, is the brain child of two-time world marathon champion, Catherine Ndereba.
Maina, who is Ndereba's husband, said they are happy that the objectives of the event have been attained. "We started this race with the aim of helping spot talent and help to expose it. I'm happy to say today we have achieved that and people like Jane Murage here or last year's champion, Nathan Kosgei, have gone on to do well in international competitions," he said.
With the increased sponsorship package, winning athletes will take home Sh100,000, which is double what they paid out last year for both men and women winners. The first runners-up will have Sh50,000 while third placed will secure Sh30,000. The prizes will trickle down to cover the runner who comes in 10th.
Nike has also provided T-Shirts, shoes and watches that will be handed out to the winners as a token for their effort. The race, which will be run in two laps, will be competed around and inside Nyeri town. Athletics Kenya chairman, Isaiah Kiplagat, said it was important to have all events in the country managed professionally and to get the association's blessings before they are organised.
"Some organisers are only interested in collecting the entry fee. But we are here to see that such people do not thrive and we will only sanction events that we are sure meet the required standards and are aimed at helping nurturing talent," he said.
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