Over 500 athletes register for Laikipia Half Marathon

Some of the runners who will be taking part in the elite category during the 8th edition of the Laikipia University Half Marathon train at the Nyahururu Stadium on September 25, 2018. The race is set for September 29. PHOTO | STEVE NJUGUNA |

What you need to know:

  • The 2010 World Cross Country champion Joseph Ebuya is also expected to participate.

Over 500 runners are expected to participate in the 8th edition of the Laikipia University Half Marathon set for this Saturday in Nyahururu.

Among the top runners expected in the event are last year’s winners Donald Mitei and Diana Chemutai who are expected to defend their titles.

The 2010 World Cross Country champion Joseph Ebuya is also expected to participate.

The 21km race is aimed at raising money for conservation of the neighbouring Shamanei forest and also market the university as a centre of sports excellence.

The competition is expected to be stiff in all categories as runners are seeking to have a share of the Sh1.5 million worth of prizes.

The overall winners for both men and women will walk home with Sh200,000 each with the second placed finishers pocketing Sh70,000.

In addition to the half marathon, there will be 10km road race for elite athletes where winners will pocket Sh100,000 while the runner’s up will walk home Sh40,000 richer.

However Francis Kimau, a Nyahururu-based coach, said if the Sh1.5 million in prize money was fairly distributed among the top 10 finishers, the race could attract close to 1,000 runners.

“Giving the winner Sh200,000 and runner’s up Sh70,000 is not fair. Runners enter a race with top 10 positions in mind,” he said at the Nyahururu Stadium on Wednesday.