Abel Kirui, Alice Timbilil to lead elite cast in First Lady’s Half Marathon

Abel Kirui celebrates with Kenya’s flag after claiming silver at the 2012 London Olympic Games. FILE PHOTO |

What you need to know:

  • Annual competition part of the Beyond Zero Campaign.
  • Two-time World marathon champ and ex-World Cross silver medallist in field of 20,000 for Sunday’s race.

Two-time World marathon champion Abel Kirui and 2005 World Cross silver medalist Alice Timbilil will compete in the First Lady’s Half Marathon race on Sunday in Nairobi.

Kirui, who has personal best 1hr, 00.11 min from the 2007 Rotterdam Half Marathon, is among an elite field set to clash in the second edition of the race that will start and end at the Nyayo National Stadium.

Kirui, the winner of the 2007 Paderborn Half-Marathon, claimed back-to-back wins in the World Championships Marathon in 2009 and 2011.

The 32-year-old has already expressed his desire for the third world marathon title after he failed to defend his crown at the 2013 Moscow World Championships owing to an injury.

Timbilil, the 1999 World Youth 10,000m champion, has competed in several half marathon races, winning the 2010 Roma Ostia Half Marathon in 1:10:34.

She finished second in 2009 Philadelphia, 2009 Lisbon and Saltillo respectively. Timbilil, 32, took part in the 2010 BIG 25 road race in Berlin and came second in 1:24:38, although this was over three and a half minutes slower than Mary Keitany who set a world record.

She took on Keitany at the Portugal Half Marathon and came second again, beating the rest of the field by 20 seconds.

According to organisers, 20,000 participants had registered to compete by Thursday’s deadline.

EVERYTHING IN PLACE

Local Organising Committee chairman Barnabas Korir said they have put everything in place for the race, among them postponing the second Athletics Kenya Relay Series which had been planned for Saturday to ensure a successful event.

“Plans for the event are in top gear and we will have a very good race. It is good that the relay series have been cancelled since we want to give officials ample time to concentrate on one race,” said Korir, adding that they expect close to 20,000 participants.

The race is part of the Beyond Zero Campaign that aims to reduce maternal death and infant mortality by availing better healthcare systems nationally. The initiative by the First Lady aims to provide all counties countrywide with fully-kitted mobile clinics.

A total of Sh5.6m in prize money will be on offer, with winners of the 21km races running away with Sh750,000 each.

The winners of the 10km races will get Sh250, 000 each. First runners-up all through to the fifth-placed athletes in both men and women’s 21km will pocket Sh500,000, Sh250,000, Sh150,000 and Sh100,000 respectively. The prize scheme trickles down to the top 20 finishers in each category.

Tricycle and wheelchair race winners will take home Sh100,000 and Sh50,000 respectively in both the men and women categories.