Awards: Milan Marathon champ Ekiru named Sports Personality of May

LG Electronics East Africa Managing Director Sa Nyoung Kim poses with Milano Marathon champion Titus Ekiru after being awarded as the May Sports Personality of the Month [PHOTO COURTESY]

Milan Marathon winner Titus Ekiru is the LG/ Sports Journalists Association of Kenya (SJAK) Sports Personality of the Month for May.

The award comes after winning the Generali Milan Marathon for a second time on May 16 in a course record of 2:02:57.

This time improved the course record he set in 2019 of 2:04:46 by 1 minute 49 seconds, as he became the joint fifth fastest marathoner of all time.

His winning time went into the records as the fastest time run in a marathon in May and an Italian all-comers record.

For winning the award where he was awarded by LG Electronics East Africa Managing Director Sa Nyoung Kim, Ekiru went home with an LG SolarDOM Oven worth Sh65,000.

“LG partnered with Sports Journalists Association of Kenya to support the Sports Personality of the Month Award which recognizes promising Kenyan talent in sports,” Kim said.

“We are indeed honoured to be supporting Kenyan athletes and sportsmen and women during these tough times as part of our commitment to promoting the development of sports in this country.”

An elated Ekiru said; “I Would like to thank LG/SJAK for this award. Winning the Milan Marathon and equalling Dennis Kimeto’s former world record against a strong field was a great source of joy for me, and this award is a pleasant and humbling surprise as I get back to my training programme.”

“I am now motivated to push for a better time and hopefully the world record too,” added Ekiru.

Among the nominees pipped by Ekiru to the gong in the month of May were Elias Ngeny who clocked a world-leading time of the 1 minute 43.84 seconds at the Athletics Kenya Pre-Trials at the Nyayo National stadium.

Others are weightlifter Winny Langat who took silver in the women’s 59kg division at the African Championships in Nairobi, and boxer Nick Okoth who won a bronze at the Konstan Korotkov Boxing Championships in Russia.

Ekiru joins the growing list of sportsmen and women to have won the coveted title this season.

Other winners are tennis superstar Angela Okutoyi (January), basketballer Tylor Okari Ongwae of Kenya Moran's (February) and boxer Elly Ajowi (March) in a fairy tale stint that saw him qualify for the Tokyo Olympics.

The LG sponsored award continues to whip up the enthusiasm of sports personalities across the country.

LG Electronics corporate communications manager Maureen Kemunto while congratulating Ekiru, noted that the company is proud to be a part of an initiative which rewards excellence.

"Our partnership with SJAK goes a long way in bolstering athletes talent and empowering them to be the backbone of sports in the country. Being an Olympic year, sports personalities are giving their all to uphold higher standards hence the need to motivate their efforts"

SJAK President Chris Mbaisi, on his part, thanked LG Electronics for their unswerving support saying the partnership continues to make a gigantic difference in the promotion of sporting activities across the country.

"With the Award running on a monthly basis, sportsmen and women can look forward to greater heights in sport- so thrills and spills are guaranteed in the season as we move forward."