Lokomwa and Njeri battle to victory at 9th edition of Imenti South Road Race

Thomas Lokomwa and Pauline Njeri yesterday won the 9th edition of the Safaricom South Imenti Road Race, each bagging a Sh100, 000 cash prize.

Lokomwa and Njeri conquered the tough road race, including the hilly Mwichiune and Ntharene sections.

Lokomwa from, Gilgil won the 15 kilometres race in a time of 49:49.6 while Njeri who hails from Embu County, finished in 58:10.9.

“The course here is very tough, because we had to pass through several steep climbs. It drains the energy out of you, so I had to persevere. But I had prepared very well,” said Lokomwa, winner of this year’s Expo Milan Road Race in Italy. Lokomwa, 26, finished in 30th place in the 2010 edition.

Njeri, 27, who has been racing in several European cities, said her focus is to make the Kenyan team to the Rio Olympics.

Morris Munene from Manyatta, was second with a time of 49:57.7 while Nancy Nzisa was third, posting 58:31.6.

Kimathi Mutwerandu, the chairman of the organising committee, thanked Safaricom for the sponsorship, saying next year’s edition would be much bigger.

The top ten finishers were awarded cash prizes, with second-placed athletes going home Sh50, 000 richer.

Third place earned athletes Sh25, 000, while fourth-placed went home with Sh12, 000.

The top local athlete in the men’s category was Kenneth Kimathi, who was ninth in a time of 51:4.1, bagging Sh20, 000 while the top local athlete in the women’s category was MaryAnne Wangare, who crossed the line in sixth place, with a time of 60:32.1.

The race was sponsored by Safaricom to a tune of Sh1 million.

Meru Governor Peter Munya donated Sh150, 000 towards the race, presented by Julius Kimathi, the County Secretary.