Kosgey to defend First Lady Half Marathon title

First Lady Margaret Kenyatta (centre) crosses the finish line during the 21km First Lady's Marathon at Nyayo Stadium on March 8, 2015. PHOTO | MARTIN MUKANGU |

What you need to know:

  • This year, First Lady Margaret Kenyatta will run 10km and not 21km. She will flag off the race at 7am.
  • Olympics and world 3,000m steeplechase champion Ezekiel Kemboi will open his season in the 10km race.

Iten’s Moses Kosgey will defend his First Lady’s Half Marathon title at Nyayo National Stadium on Sunday.

The little-known Kosgey beat experienced Andrew Kimutai and the 2011 Philadelphia Half Marathon champion Matthew Kisorio in the last three kilometres to triumph in 1hr: 01:28 mins.

Kimutai, who was fifth at the 2014 Hamburg Half Marathon, settled for second place in 1:01:35 followed by Kisorio in 1:01:53.

“As an athlete, you are always prepared to win each race. This is my goal on Sunday (today),” said Kosgey, who won the 2014 Warsaw Half Marathon.

This year, First Lady Margaret Kenyatta will run 10km and not 21km. She will flag off the race at 7am.

“Kosgey and Kimutai will face off again but Kisorio has opted to prepare for the Rotterdam Marathon set for April,” said the Local Organising Committee chairman Barnabas Korir.

Olympics and world 3,000m steeplechase champion Ezekiel Kemboi will open his season in the 10km race.

In the women’s race, Cynthia Chelagat, who won the 10km during the inaugural 2014 race, is back to reclaim her crown. Chelagat is expected to go head to head with World Military Games 3,000m silver medallist Agnes Jesang.

Korir said all professional runners registered for the marathon would be tested by the Anti-Doping Agency of Kenya (Adak).

“The samples would be taken to Qatar and we expect the results in three weeks. Only then would the prize money be released. This would be the first tests done by Adak,” said Korir.