North Rift fans over the moon after marathon victory

Residents of Uasin Gishu County watch the Olympic Games’ men’s marathon in Eldoret Town on Sunday. Eliud Kipchoge won gold in the race. PHOTO: JARED NYATAYA | NATION MEDIA GROUP

What you need to know:

  • Celebrations were heavy in various areas across the region that is home to most Kenyan athletes.
  • Kipchoge reclaimed the title that Kenya lost to Uganda in the London Games of 2012.
  • The late Samuel Wanjiru won the title at 2008 Beijing Games, but Uganda won four years later through Stephen Kiprotich.

North Rift residents were ecstatic yesterday evening after Eliud Kipchoge lived to the billing, emphatically winning the Olympic marathon title at the Rio Games.

Celebrations were heavy in various areas across the region that is home to most Kenyan athletes. Kipchoge reclaimed the title that Kenya lost to Uganda in the London Games of 2012. The late Samuel Wanjiru won the title at 2008 Beijing Games, but Uganda won four years later through Stephen Kiprotich.

Kipchoge’s win made it a double marathon victory for Kenya after Jemimah Sumgong won Kenya’s first Olympic gold for the women’s race last week.
In Brazil, Kenya was represented in the marathon by Wesley Korir, Eliud Kipchoge and Stanley Biwott.

Former World Marathon record holder Wilson Kipsang, former Boston Marathon champion Moses Tanui, active marathoner Abraham Chelanga and 2008 Olympic 800m champion Wilfred Bungei are among athletes who watched the action at different spots across North Rift.

Tanui, the first man to run 21km under an hour, had placed his money on Kipchoge whom he said is a fighter and only goes for gold.

The attention was undivided and hopes were high that the marathoners would wrap up Kenya’s appearance in style after losing the men’s 1500m and women’s 800m on Sunday morning.

CLEAR ME URGENTLY

Bungei landed at the Eldoret International Airport from Nairobi and hurried to join fans at his Tortoise Hotel in Kapsabet, Nandi County.

“I requested them to clear me urgently after landing because I did not want to miss any bit of the race. These are our brothers fighting to bring back the glory and we have to support them by cheering. We are happy for winning both marathons,” Bungei said.

World marathon record holder Dennis Kimetto and 2011 Boston Marathon winner Geoffrey Mutai were watching at Kimetto’s house in Eldoret.

Tanui, Chelanga and tens of other athletes turned up at the Shakers Inn Restaurant, a spot that regularly fills to brim during big city races. Being a weekend, the number of fans who congregated near the Mandago Screen were more than those realised in the past days since the start of the athletics schedule.

Former World Marathon record holder Wilson Kipsang joined fans at his Iten’s Keelu Resort also to catch up with the 26.2 miles battle along the streets of the Brazilian Ocean side City.

BIGGEST PORTION

From the observation, Kipchoge raked the biggest portion of fans at the Shakers viewership. The reigning Berlin Marathon champion has had a superlative stint since switching to marathon running in 2013, having won six out of seven marathons he has competed in,four titles being World Marathon Major races.

Fans were crazy as the leading pack fronted by Kipchoge, descended down the Flamingo Park after the latter showed intent of breaking away.

The atmosphere was silent as Korir, the Kenyan team captain at the Rio Games, started drifting back as Kipchoge burst ahead with Ethiopia’s Lemi Berhanu.

Even after Biwott and Korir gradually went off the camera focus, “all was well” as Kipchoge commanded the lead with about 8km to go.

At the last three kilometers, Kipchoge was in a world of his own, running as if he had just begun.

Kipchoge, who comes from Kapsisiywo village of Nandi County, won the marathon race, his first Olympic title after bagging 5000m bronze and silver medals in 2004 and 2008 Games.