Lukenya Marathon organisers set for bigger event next year

Standard Group Head Of Corporate Affairs Manager Charles Kimathi (left) presents a cash cheque to the winner of the women's 42km Lukenya University Marathon winner Hellen Jepkurgat at the Standard Group offices in Nairobi. [Denis Kibuchi, Standard]

Winners of the inaugural Lukenya University One Million Trees Marathon smiled all the way to the bank yesterday after being rewarded for their efforts in the race that supports sustainable actions on climate change.

The men and women 42km champions went home Sh500,000 richer each while 21km winners bagged Sh150,000. The 10km champions were each awarded Sh30,000.

"This money has cone at the right time, I already have a plot in Machakos so I'll start putting up its foundation," men's 42km winner Peter Kyengo told Standard Sports.

Kyengo, fresh from winning the Poznan marathon in Poland a fortnight ago, already has his in-tray full for the year, with his next race scheduled on May 14 in Chile where he will be gunning for the Santiago marathon title.

"After that, I will be headed for the Bali Marathon in Indonesia in August," he said.

Women's 42km winner Hellen Jepkurgat from Nandi plans to pay school fees for her two boys with the money she won.

Just like Kyengo, Jepkurgat too is fresh from winning the Nantes Marathon in France on Sunday.

"I have been trying to secure the US visa for the Grandma Marathon in June but so far I'm not successful, so I have opted for the Eldoret City marathon in the month," Jepkurgat said.

From left to right, Jane Mwikali from the technical team of the Lukenya University Marathon, coach Hillary Cheruiyot, Moses Mbugua, second runner's up of the men's 42km marathon, men's 42 km winner Peter Kyengo, women's 42km Lukenya University second runner's up Bency Cheruiyot and women's 42km Lukenya University marathon Hellen Jepkurgat during the award ceremony at the Standard media group offices in Nairobi. [Denis Kibuchi, Standard]

Top ten finishers in each category; 42km, 21km, 10km were all awarded during the ceremony held at the Standard Group PLC offices along Mombasa Road.

Charles Kimathi, the Standard Group Head of Corporate Affairs, hailed Lukenya University for the successful race that attracted elite athletes from across the country, including a few ones from China and America.

Kimathi pledged that the giant media outlet will work with the race organisers to highlight the progress of the one million trees the race intends to achieve in five years.

"We will also follow the success of the champions who were made from this marathon, we look forward to their greater success in the future," Kimathi stated.

Lukenya University Board of Trustees Chairperson, Sylvia Kasanga, acknowledged that the first edition of the race was a success. She thanked the hundreds of athletes who showed up for the event saying their call to heed the marathon was such a great honour.

"The second edition will be bigger and better, we are confident the number of participants will double," she said.

"We are grateful to the many sponsors, like Standard Group, who came on board to support the marathon.

"This month, we have surpassed our target of planting and distributing 16,000 seedlings, we did 22,000," she said.

Race Local Organizing Committee Chairman George Wasonga said the marathon opened up more opportunities to upcoming athletes especially in the 10km category where the winners got special invites to take part in the South Africa marathon (women) and a marathon in China (men).

Meanwhile, the qualification system for the World Athletics Relays Nassau 24 has been released.

The Bahamian capital, which hosted the first three editions of the World Relays, will once again welcome the world's best sprinters on 4-5 May 4-5, 2024 as countries compete for relay places at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.

The programme for Nassau comprises five relay disciplines.