Iten Marathon preparations in top gear

Women participate in 42km during the Iten International Marathon first edition held in Iten yesterday. December 18, 2022. [Peter Ochieng, Standard]

Big names are expected to line up in the marathon, with a keen eye on the race's Sh1 million top prize.

Preparations for the second edition of Iten International Marathon are in top gear, teams planning this year's contest have said.

Race organisers yesterday asked athletes to be ready to end the 2023 season on a high note with the race scheduled for Sunday, November 12.

Big names are expected to line up in the marathon, with a keen eye on the race's Sh1 million top prize.

Elgeyo Marakwet County, which pioneered the race last year, asked athletes to prepare well for the showdown.

"Banks such as Kenya Commercial Bank, Equity Bank and Cooperative Bank as well as Boresha Sacco are among our sponsors," the race organisers said.

They went ahead to say: "We are also elated that ChapaBet, Safaricom and Coca-Cola are among corporates sponsoring this year's edition. Athletics Kenya and the Anti-Doping Agency of Kenya are integral in the planning."

Introduction of 10km and 5km corporate fun races aims to make the second edition a bigger extravaganza, according to the organisers.

Athletes have been registering in Iten and Elgeyo Marakwet County Ward offices ahead of the deadline on November 9.

Participants will race from the start line in Chororget on the high altitude course Nyaru-Iten road. The finish line is at Iten town where the race award ceremony will happen.

Last year, huge numbers of fans followed the event along the course with an even bigger crowd cheering top marathoners at the finish line.

The 2023 edition is expected to attract large numbers of budding and experienced athletes training in Iten and the North Rift region.

Foreign athletes training in the country and those from abroad have set their sights on challenging local stars.