Athletics: Baringo half marathon takes new route this year

Baringo Half Marathon Participants take part in past Baringo Half Marathon race. The 2016 edition will be held on November 5. PHOTO: COURTESY

Athletes in this year's Lotto Baringo Half Marathon scheduled for November 18 will use a new route.

For the past 15 years, the race has been staged on the traditional Kabartonjo to Kabarnet road, but this year, they will make use of a different course.

The race co-ordinator, Simon Chebon, said they will use the Kabarnet-Sacho-Tenges road and will start at Timboiywo, a town that is approximately 18km from Kabarnet town.

It will begin along Sacho-Tenges road, 19km away from Kipng'ochoch forest.

The course will wind through Timboiywo, Kabasis before a short elevation to Borowonin centre, then a sustained 3km drop. 

From Kapsoo, the route will go down to Kasoiyo where it connects with Kabarnet- Marigat Road for a 2km ascend to Kabarnet town.

This, he said, was perhaps one of the hardest parts of the course that will test the athletes’ resolve and in the process, separate pretenders from real contenders.

"This is the defining section,” he said. "The rest is a loop in the town centre before competitors finish at the Kabarnet Museum grounds.

“We have decided to make the changes after having a chat with the technical team. We have chosen a different route since the one we have been using is currently not tenable for both athletes and spectators.

"We have always began at Kabartonjo, but this year, owing to the state of that course, we have no choice but to change,” said  Chebon. 

He said the new route promises thrills and they expect faster times. He said the route was full bends, twists and uphills hence will test the athletes to their limits.

Chebon also said they have included a 10km run on the same course and a 6km fun race for children within Kabarnet town.

The race recently received a shot in the arm after gaming company Lotto increased this year's sponsorship to Sh5m. They spent Sh4m in last year's event.

Baringo deputy governor, Jacob Chepkwony said the new route will definitely be an attraction for sports tourism enthusiasts who will enjoy the fantastic sceneries.

He praised Lotto Foundation for sponsoring the event for the second successive year.

[Standard Sports]