Focus shifts to Kisumu rabies run, Kisii Half Marathon
Philes Ongori from Kenya crosses the finish line to win the 2012 Jakarta International 10km race in Jakarta on May 20, 2012. PHOTO | OSCAR SIAGIAN |
What you need to know:
- In Kisii, Ongori will take on the 2010 Commonwealth Games marathon silver medallist Irene Mogaka, the 2015 winner Grace Momanyi, and Mumbai Marathon champion Bornes Jepkurui in the exciting women’s race.
- Moranga is up against Mulei Half Marathon champion Sammy Nyokaye among others.
Belfast Half Marathon champion Gedion Kipsang is among 500 participants are expected for the inaugural Run For Rabies 10-kilometre Road Race on Thursday in Kisumu City.
At the same time, the 2009 World Half Marathon Championships silver medallist Philes Ongori and 2017 Stramilano Half Marathon champion Fredrick Moranga will take part at Safaricom Kisii Half Marathon on Friday in Kisii town.
The Run For Rabies race, that will coincide with World Rabies Day, will be flagged off by Kisumu Governor Anyang’ Nyongo at the Jomo Kenyatta Sports Ground at 7am and will end at the same venue.
CREATE AWARENESS
The race’s organising committee secretary, Dominic Ondieki, said that the race, that is the brainchild of Sharon Live On Foundation, is to create awareness about rabies and on the need to vaccinate animals that spread the disease especially dogs.
Kipsang, who is fresh from winning Belfast Half Marathon 10 days ago, will take on the likes of 2016 Chizhou Pinghan Half Marathon champion Eliud Matu among others in the men’s race.
Judy Cherotich, who finished second in women’s 10km race at last year’s Standard Chartered Nairobi Marathon, and settled third at La Voie Royale 10km race in a personal best of 33 minutes in Saint Denis, France in March this year, will highlight the women’s race.
Sharon Live On Foundation, in conjunction with Merc International from Poland, will provide the government with vaccines worth Sh30 million for the next one year.
EXCITING RACE
Sharon Live On Foundation founder Barnaba Korir, whose daughter Sharon died from rabies in 2004 after she was bitten by a stray dog, said their partnership with the government is aimed at eradicating rabies in the country by 2030.
“We intend to make the race an annual event by hosting it in different counties to create rabies awareness,” said Korir.
In Kisii, Ongori will take on the 2010 Commonwealth Games marathon silver medallist Irene Mogaka, the 2015 winner Grace Momanyi, and Mumbai Marathon champion Bornes Jepkurui in the exciting women’s race.
Moranga is up against Mulei Half Marathon champion Sammy Nyokaye among others.
