The second edition of Iten International Marathon has been set for November 26, this year, organisers announced on Thursday during the prize awards ceremony for the inaugural edition that took place last December.
Organisers said the delay in paying the athletes was occasioned by a long wait for doping test results.
Winners in each category (men's and women's) walked away with Sh1 million each, with second and third-placed marathoners taking home Sh750,000 and Sh500,000 respectively from the race's Sh6.5 million prize purse during the award ceremony held in Iten. The top 20 athletes in each category were awarded.
Former Zagreb Spring Half Marathon Samuel Naibei and the 2019 winner of Belfast City Marathon Carolyn Chepchirchir won the inaugural race on December 18.
Athletes seized the opportunity to call for the completion of stalled Kamariny Stadium whose upgrading started in 2016.
"We are proud to be training in Iten and a county that has earned the Home of Champions status. We will be grateful if we get one stadium for our training," Susy Chemaimak, who finished second in the women's marathon said during the prize awards event.
Naibei, who comes from Trans Nzoia and has trained in Iten for ten years ran 2:08:43 while Chepchirchir cut the tape in 2:28:33 in the race staged in a tough, high-altitude course.
The men's marathon champion said he was preparing to defend his 2022 title, which remains the course record.
"It was my dream to win at the Home of Champions and to have set the best time on a hard course. I urge Athletics Kenya to consider performances at the Iten International Marathon when selecting a national marathon team in the future," Naibei said.
Naibei, who is fresh from fifth place finish at the Nelson Mandela Half Marathon in South Africa is preparing to line up at the 2023 edition of Nairobi Marathon next month.
Chepchirchir, the women's champion, went ahead to race at the Vienna marathon, finishing sixth.
"I am happy that I have been awarded at last. This will boost my training and my investments," she said.
Elgeyo Marakwet County sports executive Purity Koima assured athletes and enthusiasts that the November 26 race will be better than the 2022 inaugural marathon.
"We are set for the second edition of the Iten International Marathon. November 26, 2023 will be the official date for this year's edition," Koima said.
Elgeyo Marakwet is the race's organiser while Kenya Commercial Bank is the major sponsor.
Standard Media Group Plc remains the official media partner.
"We are glad to report that all the doping tests done on the 2022 participants ahead of the awards ceremony turned negative. We take pride in staging a race that adhered to integrity standards," the sports executive said.
Deputy Governor Grace Cheserek said Governor Wisley Rotich was pushing for the completion of Kamariny Stadium.
"We are soon officially launching the second edition. We are retaining the prize awards and urge both local and international athletes to prepare well for this year's marathon," she said.
LEADING ATHLETES AND CASH PRIZES:
Men
1.Samuel Naibei 2:01:09 Sh1m
2.Joshua Kogo 2:01:25 Sh750,000
3.Albert Kangogo 2:11:46 Sh500,000
4.Kennedy Kemboi 2:12:21 Sh300,000
5.William Cheboi 2:13:20 Sh200,000
6. Benson Tunyo 2:14:02 Sh150,000
7. Stephen Kipkosgei 2:14:56 Sh100,000
8. Isaac Kiplagat 2:15:10 Sh50,000
9. Silas Too 2:15:11 Sh50,000
10. Stephen Mukabi 2:15:14 Sh30,000
Women
- Caroline Jepchirchir 2:28:33 Sh1m
- Suzy Chemaimak 2:33:49 Sh750,000
- Mercy Kipkemoi 2:35:09 Sh500,000
- Martha Akeno 2:35:30 Sh300,000
- Joan Kipyatich 2:36:26 Sh200,000
- Hilda Cheboi 2:36:47 Sh150,000
- Janet Kiptoo 2:37:03 Sh100,000
- Rael Kimaiyo 2:38:28 Sh50,000
- Hellen Jepkurgat 2:38:29 Sh50,000
- Faith Jepkoech 2:38:40 Sh30,000
