Ndalat Gaa race gets season underway next weekend

[PHOTO: COURTESY]

Preparation for the 8th edition of Athletics Kenya Ndatat Gaa Cross Country is in top gear.

Olympic Champion Conseslus Kipruto has confirmed participation in the event, which will mark the start of the 2016-2016 AK athletics calendar. The first race of the series will be held next week in Nandi County.

The race, a brainchild of former AK President, the late Isaiah Kiplagat, will change its name in honour of its founder from next year. It will be renamed Isaiah Kiplagat Memorial Cross Country Championship.

The organisers of the event, led by AK Central Rift Chairman Abraham Mutai, have also made some changes to the event. Unlike with previous editions, the event will now be held for a worthy course.

Proceeds from this year’s event will be directed towards Kimbilio Hospice, an in-patient and out-patient facility caring for people living with life-threatening illness. The hospice is located in Kipkaren, the border of Uasin Gishu and Nandi Counties.

Some of the previous winners of the cross country include world 1,500m champion Asbel Kiprop, Olympic champion Faith Chepngetich, Priscah Cheptoo and World Cross Country champion Agnes Tirop. Conseslus Kipruto will be competing in the race for the seventh year and he is the race’s ambassador.

Speaking when receiving sponsorship towards the event yesterday at Riadha House, Tuwei welcomed the organiser’s idea of running for a course.

“For the past eight years, the race has grown from strength to strength. With this year’s decision to run for a course, I think it is a brilliant idea. It’s always good to have an initiative that helps the less-fortunate in our community,” said Tuwei.

The development to rename the race is underway and AK executive will formalise the process soon.

“The race is associated with Kiplagat and it will be a great honour to him. We already presented the idea and the AK President is aware and the renaming process is ongoing,” said Mutai.

The race is part of Safaricom Athletics series and the telecommunication company has given Sh2 million towards the event. The other sponsors include Nandi County government with Sh1.2 million, Skywards Aviation and The New KCC.

The race will have 18 categories; from seven-year-old categories, to 80-year-olds race, with cash awards for all winners.