Chasing after doubled Family Bank marathon purse

HALF MARATHON Athletes participate in men 21 kilometer Half Marathon race sponsored by Family Bank in Eldoret yesterday. Sammy Kitui won the race. 04.10.2015. Pictures By Peter Ochieng

Winners of this year's Family Bank Eldoret half-marathon have every reason to smile after the prize money was doubled to Sh500,000.

The event is scheduled for October 9 and in total, the bank will spend Sh10 million to sponsor the one-day event.

More than 1,000 athletes are expected to take part in the event that is now in its 10th year.

Family Bank Managing Director David Thuku said the total cash prize for this year's event was Sh3 million.

"Our investment in the marathon underscores the importance we attach to this sport – not only as a way of supporting and nurturing talent but also because it resonates with our transformation agenda going by the successes recorded by participants in previous races," he said.

"We want to upscale this marathon to be a captivating platform for supporting budding athletic talent in Kenya. We have held very successful marathons in the past nine years. Every time a Kenyan wins a race anywhere in the world, we feel very happy."

Eliud Kipchoge, men's Olympic marathon champion, is one of the big names taking part in this year's event, continuing a tradition the race has had of attracting big names.

Since its launch, the half-marathon has produced talented world beaters including Mercy Kibarus, the 2013 Brussels IAAF 12km silver medallist, 2013 Berlin Marathon winner Wilson Kipsang and 2009 Standard Chartered Marathon winner Moses Kigen, who was also sixth at the Boston Marathon in the same year.

Solomon Bushiendich, who won in 2008, has taken part in the Amsterdam, Lille and Rotterdam marathons, while Priscah Cheptoo, winner of the 2009 and 2010 editions, won the 2011 Paris Marathon, Milano in 2009, Valencia in 2010 and Podofa, Italy, in 2010. She was also second at the 2011 World Championship in Daegu.

Registration for the marathon began on Monday at different athletics camps in Iten, Kaptagat and the bank's branches in Eldoret West, Eldoret East, Kericho, Kapsabet, Nakuru and Kitale.

Registration is Sh200 and the proceeds will help support an educational programme in Eldoret.