Kirui Chesang wins maiden Limuru Half Marathon

By ERICK WAINAINA

Kirui Chesang from Eldama Ravine won Limuru Half Marathon in one hour and three minutes over the weekend.

Kariuki Mbugua took the second position at 1:04.00 while James Mbugua came third timing 1:04.42.

The race, flagged off by Machel Waikenda, Kiambu County Sports and Youth Affairs secretary and Kikuyu MP Kimani Ichun’gwa at Rironi Primary School, comprised 21km, 14km, 10km, 5km family run and 3km for people with disabilities.

Chesang said the climate that is almost same as that of Eldama Ravine made his task easier. He is now preparing for the Glasgow Commonwealth Games as well as Sotokoto, Maasai Mara,  Mombasa and the StanChart Marathon.

‘The win has given me more hopes of winning the upcoming marathons and I will train more,” he said after winning the race organised by Limuru athletes and sponsored by several institutions among them Kiambu County Government.

hundreds of athletes

Pauline Muchiri from Limuru won the ladies’ category clocking 1:13.04 in the competition that attracted hundreds of athletes. Nancy Kimaiyo took the second place at 1:14.00 while Mary Wangechi in 1:14:04 followed.

Francis Kamau from Lari and who trains in Nyahururu triumphed in 10km while Isabel Kigen from Eldoret won in the ladies category.

Waikenda said the county government would support the marathon and partner with organisers to ensure it becomes an annual event.

“It was a successful event and we will continue supporting them. We had a successful Lari Marathon and we want to have such activities in our calendar taking place across the county,” Waikenda said.

This, he said, is the only way to identify and nurture sports talent.

The race is tailored towards raising funds to set up an athletics centre and rehabilitate Rironi grounds to international standards.

The ground will undergo grading, levelling, marking, grass planting, fencing, buying and fixing athletics facilities at a cost of  Sh4.5 million.