BIG SHOW IN CITY: No holds barred as elite runners fight for StanChart Marathon prize in the capital

Participants during the Standard Nairobi Marathon on october 30/10/2011.PHOTO:BONIFACE OKENDO

Nairobi City comes alive tomorrow morning when more than 25,000 participants battle at the 12th edition of Standard Chartered Marathon run.

The contest, which is billed as the biggest marathon show in the country, will kick off at 6am at Nyayo Stadium.

StanChart race has emerged as a take-off point for local talent to flourish, where budding athletes are nurtured and polished to conquer the world.

World Marathon record holder Dennis Kimetto (2:02.57), Geoffrey Mutai, who boasts a jaw-dropping 2:03.02 third world best time and reigning Commonwealth Games winner Irene Jerotich, honed their skills at the competition –the Nairobi’s flagship race.

Jerotich, who delivered Kenya’s women’s maiden Commonwealth Marathon title in New Delhi in 2010, is perhaps the only athlete basking in exceptional shows at the Standard Chartered Marathon race.

She won in 2006 edition and runner-up finish twice in 2005 and 2008 editions.

Since then, upstarts have kept emerging from obscurity at the spectacle with unimaginable pride to give the big names an impossibly brilliant battle for the Sh1.5 million ($20,000) top cash prize.

World beating stars will be up against crowded field of newcomers that include Iten-based Collins Kosgei Tanui and Geoffrey Kosgei, in the battle for 42km silverware.

Peter Gitau, the local organising committee chairman, said they targeted an increased entry to about 25,000 runners, way above the 23,000 from 68 countries witnessed last year.

Registration in the branches outside Nairobi closed earlier, but the online and Nairobi centres closed yesterday evening.

“We are pleased with the response as it’s a professional platform with which elite athletes strive to post better times in an IAAF-recognised event.

“We are excited to have such a huge number of people registered, and we are grateful to all the corporate and individuals who have made a stand by registering for this year’s marathon.

“For every registration we have had, more children will benefit by having a life changing operation that will have them regain their sight, and live a normal life,” said Gitau.

He added: “We will ensure that we, once again, deliver an exceptional event that will exceed Kenya’s expectations while profiling our city to the world. With the registration behind us, all our focus right now is on delivering a world class marathon. Right now, we are doing final touches as we prepare for the big event.”