Girma leads foreigners at Kass Marathon

By Jonathan Komen

Elite foreign runners are expected to steal the show when the sixth Kass Marathon run gets underway on Sunday next week.

Eldoret will have a blend of untested runner’s battling the local elites and foreigners in the chase for Sh1.5 million top prize money – and, at best, the bonus for the first foreign athlete to cross the line.

Ethiopians Abay Girma and Argachew Tadesse will face a stellar Kenyan line up in the men’s 42-kilometre contest. Athletes from neighbours Uganda and Rwanda as well as Europe and America are expected to register before Thursday deadline.

It is after the expiry of the deadline that running numbers will be issued to meet international standards.

The Kass Marathon showpiece, which has been twinned with St Pauls Minneapolis marathon, will be spiced up with a tongue-wagging five-kilometre fans race  dubbed — Run for a peaceful election in Kenya.’

Kass Media CEO Julius Lamaon said the registration fee will be used to put up a peace monument at the Eldoret Municipal grounds.

“We will build a monument for peaceful elections after the race. We have discussed it with the municipal council. We have brought all that is needed to ensure Kass Marathon becomes the best marathon run in Africa” said Lamaon.

He announced a prize for title defence or victory for any former winner, saying the competition is expected to surpass the 50,000 spectators it had last year.

Winners will take home Sh1.5 million, runner-ups Sh500, 000, third place-finishers Sh250, 000 with the prizes trickle down to the tenth finisher. There is also US Dollars 5,000 for the first foreign athlete to cross the line.

 Standard Group is the media sponsor and the event will be streamed live on Kenya Television Network (KTN).