Unicef athletes in tough Iten mission

Racing for a worthy course: Dutch runners from the United Nations Children’s Fund’s Netherlands offices, along with Kenyan athletes, compete in the Unicef Rift Valley Marathon Experience in Iten, Elgeyo-Marakwet County on May 18, 2018. PHOTO | JARED NYATAYA |

What you need to know:

  • Sh18 million has been raised already to provide clean drinking water to at least 10 Kenyan schools.

Never mind the times clocked. Never mind the terrain. The mission was more important.

With over Sh18 million raised already to provide clean drinking water to at least 10 Kenyan schools, a group of Dutch runners from the United Nations Children’s Fund (Unicef) on Friday scaled the Iten heights in a gruelling 42.95-kilometre marathon, probably the toughest marathon ever organised on Kenyan soil.

Their mission at the “Unicef Rift Valley Marathon Experience race” was to continue with their fund-raising efforts and add on to the 150,000 Euros they have already raised in their initiative.

Remko Uleerlaag, 43, won the race - that rose from the Kessup Centre to the heights of the High Altitude Training Centre on the outskirts of Iten town - with a time of three hours, 17 minutes and 17 seconds, leading a 28-strong field.

Led by Kenyan-born Dutch distance running champion Lornah Kiplagat, the athletes converged at Kessup area at 6.00am before warming-up for the task ahead of them.

The race was flagged off by Elgeyo Marakwet Deputy Governor Wesley Korir with the group dashing downhill before scaling uphill to Iten.

Uleerlaag, who already earned the nickname “Kibet”, was paced by local marathoner Joakim Kemboi.

The Dutchman described the race as “the best and toughest” in his life.

“My experience in the race today was the best in my life. It was a tough race, but it was also exciting running in the hills and the valleys of the Rift Valley before winding up at 2,400 metres above sea level,” he said.

“I have been able to participate in many races including the Berlin, Rotterdam and Amsterdam marathons where I have recorded my personal best time of 2:39:20,” said the physiotherapist.

Former Olympian in the 1,500 and 800 metres, Marko Koers, finished second in 3:47:44, paced by Geoffrey Kiplang’at. Walter Heymans (3:56:31) was third.

Kiplagat, a multiple world cross country and half marathon champion, said the race will be annual.

“It was a good idea to have a marathon that would help in raising funds which will help the young kids in school. In the next edition, we expect it to bigger race than this,” said Kiplagat.

She also said that the race will not be competitive since the funds raised will be used for charity.

The Dutch runners will be visiting one of the 10 schools that will be benefiting from the funds raised in the race.