Cherono, Kiptum to meet at Deaf Marathon in Kisumu

By ERICK OCHIENG’

Deaflympics marathon champ Daniel Kiptum. [PHOTO:FILE]

Triple World champion Simon Cherono will be among the stars to grace the first ever Deaf Athletics Association of Kenya (Daak) Marathon in Kisumu on May 18.

Cherono, the Deaflympics record holder over the 10,000m distance (29:16.00) will compete alongside his perennial rival and World and Deaflympics marathon champion Daniel Kiptum in the race sponsored by Safaricom.

“I am stepping up training and will be much ready to attempt my first marathon. I belief that I can win, it’s a new category I am venturing into this year,” says Cherono, who won gold in men’s 10,000m, 5,000m and 1,500m for Kenya at the 2013 Deaflympics.

Tom Okiki, the Daak Public Relations Manager, said the maiden marathon will also include 21km and 10km events for men and women.

The marathon will start at Moi Stadium, pass through Buoye, Ahero and then back to the finishing line at the stadium.

“Prizes money will be awarded to top ten finishers. We are yet to conclude on the amount,” said Okiki. “The registration fees is Sh500 (marathon), Sh300 for 21km and 10km.

“Athletes without hearing impairment are also welcome but will compete as fun runners with no chance of winning the cash awards.

The race will bring together Deaf athletes, from across counties, who will showcase their emerging talents,” said Okiki.

Safaricom officials says they are glad to support the race with Daak having been incorporated in the Safaricom Athletics Series calendar.

 The race, which   will also be the first edition of Safaricom Athletics Series Deaf Marathon, will be rotational with Eldoret or Nairobi holding the next series depending on the board recommendation.

The maiden race is instrumental in scouting for emerging Deaf marathoners at the grassroots level. For this reason, Kenyan Deaf athletes have dominated  in various marathon races in successive international competitions.

 For instance, during the 20th Summer Deaflympic Games in Melbourne, Australia in 2005, Edwin Kipchumba was the first Kenyan Deaf athlete to win Men’s marathon gold with a time of 2:34.21, followed by Raymond Kerich who got silver with a time of 2:34.24 behind a bronze medallist Isaac Mahlake (South Africa) clicking 2:38.24.

At the first World Deaf Athletics Championships in 2008, hosted in Izmir, Turkey, Daniel Kiptum was the gold medalist timed at 2:28.45 while Peter Toroitich took the bronze medal posting 2:37.18. 

Kiptum clinched gold (2:28.31) in Men’s marathon at 21st Summer Deaflympics, Taipei, Taiwan in 2009, followed by David Njeru (2:35.59).

At the 22nd Summer Deaflympics last year staged in Sofia, Bulgaria, Kiptum won gold (2:24.45) followed by Peter Toroitich (2:28.44).

Kiptum is now the world record holder of the Deaf marathon after he performed impressively at Zurich based hearing marathon in 2011 timing 2:11.31.      — [email protected]