Aiyabei back for another shot at StanChart race

42KM marathon men Brimin Kipkorir Misoi hold his trophie winning the race clocking 02:12:39 during the Stanchart marathon 15th Edition in Nairobi on Sunday26/11/17[Boniface Okendo,Standard]

Organisers expect 22,000 participants in tomorrow’s race.

Fresh from winning Beijing Marathon last month, Valary Aiyabei expects stiff competition as she seeks to defend her Standard Chartered Nairobi Marathon 21km women title tomorrow.

The 27-year-old became the first Kenyan woman to win Beijing Marathon and hopes to excite her home fans in Nairobi.

Aiyabei holds personal best time of 1:07.50 in 21km from Prague half marathon in Czech Republic and 2:20:53 in marathon placed at the 2017 Berlin Marathon.

“The Beijing Marathon was a great race for me. I have recovered well and will defend my 21km title at the Standard Chartered Nairobi Marathon,” said Aiyebei.

“I train in Iten which is a high altitude area, so I don’t find Nairobi course difficult. I am ready for the challenge”

Organisers of the 16th Standard Chartered Nairobi Marathon said they were confident that last-minute registrations would push the number participants to over 22,000.

The race will start along Processional Way at Uhuru Park and not along Haile Selassie Avenue opposite Railway Club as earlier announced.

The 42km race, half marathon (21km) and wheelchair (21km) races will start at Uhuru Park’s Processional Way before athletes head to Haile Selassie Avenue towards Uhuru Highway round-about. While the 10km races and Family Run will start along Uhuru Highway before finishing at Uhuru Park.

“We are currently doing final logistics but we are confident of getting the number of participants to reach 22,000.

Kenyans love last-minute registers. We might not hit our 25,000 projection,” said Tom Indimuli, Standard Bank head of external communication.

Motorists will endure long traffic interruptions tomorrow as most roads will remain closed from 4am to 1pm.

Motorists approaching the City Centre from Mombasa Road will be diverted to Lusaka round-about via Madaraka rounda-bout and then take Mbagathi Way and enter the city through Valley Road.

Those driving from the City Centre to Mombasa Road will be diverted at Haile Selassie Round-about towards Railways round-about then to Landhies Road.