Chelimo, Kipkurui win Sasumua half marathon titles

Participants take part in past Baringo Half Marathon race. The 2016 edition will be held on November 5. PHOTO: COURTESY

Fresh from winning Baringo Half Marathon last weekend, Fukuoka Half Marathon runner up Edith Chelimo bagged another title when she won the Sasumua Half Marathon in 1 hour 9 minutes 45secs in Njambini, Nyandarua County yesterday.

Winning the men’s 21km was Nichodemus Kipkurui who clocked 1hour 1min and 56secs ahead of Isaac Kipkoech who last weekend also emerged the winner of the Baringo half marathon. Kipkoech timed 1 hour 2min 26secs.

Chelimo and Kipkurui each won a prize money of Sh 250,000 in a road race sponsored by Nairobi Water Company while The Standard Group were the media sponsors.

Chelimo improved on her Baringo Road race time record by less than two minutes and revealed that she’s also eyeing Kass Half Marathon title in Eldoret on Saturday in order to prepare her for the Cross-Country season that kicks-off next month in her attempts to be selected into the national team for the World Cross-Country Championships.

“The race was better than Baringo Half Marathon as the course was better compared to the latter, which was steeper and hilly in most sections and winning it has come as a miracle to me without a coach,” she told Feverpitch.

“These races have shaped me up having taken part in a number of local road races that included Madoka Half Marathon weeks back. For now I’m preparing for the World Cross Country Championships and hopes to compete in the full Kass Marathon,” Kipkurui said

Raphael Nzomo, the Nairobi Water Company chairman said they would strive to make the race better to attract elite runners in its future editions.

“We’ll strive to make this race better to attract more of the elite runners since the best runners are attracted by the prize money of any race,” Nzomo stated.

The runners up in the women’s 21km race was Pascalia Chepkorir who timed 1hour 10min 28secs ahead of Naomi Jebet (1.10.56), Viola Jelagat (1.11.35), Pauline Wambui Ngigi (1.12.10) and Lydiah Orang’o Moraa(1.12.13).

Chepkorir (Pascalia) who also finished runners up in Baringo race complained of harsh climatic conditions but finished at the respectable position after surviving endurance tests throughout the route yesterday.