PAY UP OR ELSE! Kipsang warns race organisers over withholding winning prizes

Professional Athletes Association of Kenya (PAAK)President Wilson Kipsang (third right) together with other athletes and farmers during the official launch of the 2nd Ziwa Farmers Marathon to be held on 10 Dec 2016. 13.11.2016. PHOTOS BY PETER OCHIENG/STANDARD.

Former marathon World record holder Wilson Kipsang has put on notice race organisers who fail to pay winning prizes or even unnecessarily delaying payments.

Kipsang, who is also the president of Professional Athletes Association of Kenya said they have received several complaints of organisers reneging on paying the winners.

“The complaints we have been receiving from runners is that some sponsors don’t pay them even after being announced publicly as the winners in different categories.

“The rights of the winners must be safeguarded. We will soon demand that winners be paid on the spot to avoid such incidences in future,” said Kipsang, who clocked 2:03:23 to set the World record in 2013 at the Berlin Marathon, before Dennis Kimetto lowered it to 2:02:57 at the same venue in 2014.

Kipsang was speaking during the launch of the second edition of Ziwa Farmers Marathon, where he also warned the organisers to put aside enough funds to enable athletes get their prizes promptly.

The Ziwa Farmers Marathon will be run December 10.

According to the organisers, there will be a 4x1 road race relay where elite and upcoming athletes will be tested on the newly constructed Eldoret-Ziwa in Uasin Gishu County and Kachebora-Cherangany road in Trans Nzoia County.

Kipsang encouraged farmers to turn out in big numbers and participate to ensure the event becomes the best among other events in the country.

“I am proud that we have an event that looks more unique. This one will encourage our parents to put more effort in farming and make us strong because the good results we receive when competing in other international events is because we get good food and simply means that our stomach is taken of. So we must thanks parents who are farmers,” said Kipsang.

The event that enters its second year, has five categories: 10km elite men and women, 5km men and women, 5km men and women over 50 years, 4km boys and girls over 10 years and 3km boys and girls under 10 years.

Last year, reigning Commonwealth marathon champion Flomena Cheyech and upstart Wilfred Kimitei won the elite 10km race.

Patron of the event Lawrence Tanui said the race has received massive participants compared to last year, adding that many athletes have already registered to take part on that important day.