Vincent Ouma wins Standard Chartered Marathon Kisumu Men's 10km race
Athletics
By
Washington Onyango
| Oct 13, 2024
Vincent Ouma clinched victory in the Men's 10 Kilometres Road race during the Kisumu leg of the Standard Chartered Marathon, held at Moi Stadium.
The marathon, which was part of the first satellite run of this year's StanChart Nairobi Marathon, saw Ouma battle through challenging weather conditions to finish top.
Speaking after his win, Ouma expressed his joy at emerging victorious despite the notorious heat wave that Kisumu is known for.
"It wasn't easy running under the hot sun, but I kept pushing myself and stayed hydrated. I trained hard for this, and that made all the difference in helping me endure the heat," Ouma said.
The intense temperatures made the competition even tougher, but Ouma's resilience and determination saw him finish ahead of a competitive field.
He credited his preparation and mental focus for the win, adding, "I knew the conditions would be tough, but I set a steady pace and maintained it till the finish. Winning here gives me the confidence to keep aiming higher."
Ouma also revealed his ambitions to continue participating in more road races across the country.
"This win motivates me to keep improving. My goal is to eventually compete in marathons internationally and represent Kenya at a higher level," Ouma shared, looking forward to a promising career ahead.
The Kisumu event attracted over 450 participants, painting the Lakeside City in blue and green as runners turned out in large numbers. This marked the third consecutive year Kisumu hosted a satellite run of the Standard Chartered Marathon.
Neema Gitau, Standard Chartered Bank's Head of Brand and Marketing, highlighted the importance of these satellite events, saying, "Satellite runs were introduced to bring the StanChart Nairobi Marathon experience to runners who are unable to join us in Nairobi."
Gitau also emphasized the marathon's commitment to sustainability, aligning with Kisumu County's tree-planting initiative.
"Participants at the marathon will each receive a tree seedling to plant, and we expect over 20,000 trees to be planted as a result of the event this year," she added.
The Standard Chartered Marathon continues to grow in popularity, with Kisumu playing a key role in spreading the event's positive impact across the country.