Why the new Eldoret City Marathon course is exciting

Emily Chebet on her way to winning the women's category at the fourth edition of the Eldoret City Marathon on April 10,2022. [Christopher Kipsang,Standard]

This year’s Eldoret City Marathon course will take athletes on a tour of the City of Champions, organisers have indicated.

This year’s edition has been scheduled for Sunday, October 1, 2023, with a new major sponsor.

Athletes who have previously lined up in the Eldoret City Marathon have since 2018 known the course that started outside the University of Eldoret and ended near the Zion Mall in town.

But this year, the race’s technical team has said, the course has been adjusted to showcase to the world, a town that hundreds of world beaters in athletics call home.

The start line of this year’s edition will start at Highlands Inn before the course encounters its first turn at Moi Girls High School.

According to Eldoret City Marathon race director Moses Tanui, the course will take marathoners on a tour of nearly all the town’s suburbs and landmarks.

The course, whose measurement by certified measurer Ibrahim Hussein, a three-time Boston Marathon winner will be completed ahead of the race, according to Tanui runs around Eldoret Central Business District through areas such as locations near Kipchoge Keino Stadium, Coca-Cola, KVDA Plaza, Paul’s Bakery and Raiply before taking participants to suburbs.

Athletics fans will watch the 42km action from their homes in residential areas such as Langas, Elgon View, Shauri, and Kapsoya among other suburbs.

“We are glad that the athletes will run on a new course from this year. This is a course that will run across most of our suburbs. Many new roads in Eldoret are now complete, giving the opportunity to change the route. Ibrahim Hussein will be in charge of the measurements,” Tanui, a two-time Boston Marathon winner said ahead of this Friday's official media launch.

He continued: “Athletes who will register for the race will walk away with tracksuits and caps. We want to make the race bigger and make it worthwhile for an athlete to register for the marathon.”

Eldoret City Marathon Local Organising Committee chairman Andrew Chelogoi described the new 42.195km course as exciting.

Chelogoi said the 5km fun run will give families and corporate entities the opportunity to race and enjoy entertainment during the Sunday contest.

“We are urging more corporate entities to register for the 5km family run,” the LOC chairman said, adding that the Friday media launch will showcase the race’s sponsors.

Last week, the organisers assured athletes that with the new major sponsor, athletes will receive their prize money on time.

The top 20 athletes win prizes in the annual race, with the winner in each category walking away with Sh3.5m.