Njeri and Ndegwa win Gilgil marathon race

By Boniface Thuku

Jane Njeri and Richard Ndegwa braved a punishing terrain and scotching sun with high temperatures to win in their respective category at the inaugural Gilgil Half Marathon race on Saturday.

The slow times registered by the athletes confirms the difficulties they had to endure to make it to the finishing tape.

Njeri posted a time of 1:16.01 while Ndegwa was credited with 1:07.00 as the two athletes from Nyahururu went into the competition’s records on Saturday as the first ever winners of the event.

It was far from a dominant race by the two for Tabitha Wambui, also from Nyahururu ran Njeri close, returning second in a time of 1:16.15 while Loice Kangogo came third in 1:16.45.

In the men’s category, Josephat Korir (1:07.20) was also good value for second place with Thomas Lukwama finishing third in 1:08.08.

The race, which the organisers said is intended to keep youth busy in the outlying counties near Gilgil, also featured the 10km event.

Although the race was hampered by a lack of funding, the organisers said it was the first step of a long journey, which they are determined to host annually.

Winners of the 21km event earned Sh20,000 while winners in the 10km category earned Sh3,500 and runners-up a dictionary worth Sh2,500 and third placed runners wiping their sweat with Sh1,500.

In the men’s 10km race, Phetokin Kimalel (Nyahururu) led home Paul Kariuki (Kinangop) and Peter Mwangi (Nyahururu).

For the women category, Josephine Wanjiku came home first with Rosemary Muthoni and Albina Muiru, all from Nyahururu, leading the rest home.

Most of the athletes were using the race a gauge ahead of the cross country season, which starts in two weeks time.