Athletes battle for Ndalat Gaa honours

An electrifying action is expected when the seventh Ndalat Gaa cross-country meeting in Nandi County gets underway today.

More than 5,000 athletes and 40,000 fans are expected at the lush green and well-manicured course circuit at Ndalat Gaa Girls High School even as the athletes use the showpiece to gauge their form ahead of the 13th Standard Chartered Nairobi International Marathon set for October 25.

At the same time 11 corporates have boosted the Standard Chartered Marathon with Sh77 million. Standard Chartered Bank, the title sponsor, has confirmed to have injected Sh100 million.

Peter Gitau, the chair of the Nairobi Marathon steering committee, said the Standard Chartered Nairobi Marathon is now a recognised event in the international athletics calendar. “We are confident that soon international elite athletes will start participating,” he added.

More than 23,000 participants are expected at this year’s event.

Registration opened last month at all Standard Chartered Bank branches countrywide, selected health clubs, Uchumi and Skechers outlets in Nakumatt at a cost of Sh2,000.

At the Ndalat race, Deputy President William Ruto — accompanied by Uasin Gishu Governor Jackson Mandago, Athletics Kenya President Isaiah Kiplagat and other dignitaries — will flag off the event.

While the majority of participants in this year’s event will be drawn from Kenya, there are entrants from Bahrain, Ethiopia, Uganda, Qatar and Tanzania.

The race has been divided into 15 categories that will include the children’s races, the 6km and 10km seniors, a veterans’ race among others.

Some of the elite Kenyan athletes expected to make an appearance include world 400m hurdles champion, Nicholas Bett, world 5,000m silver medallist Faith Cheng’etich, London and Berlin Marathon winner Eliud Kipchoge, three-time world 1,500m champion Asbel Kiprop and world 10,000m silver medallist Geoffrey Kipsang Kamworor.

Organisers will also introduce the IAAF Kids Athletics programme, which is the first one in Kenya, and is aimed at encouraging young children to participate in Athletics events.

They have invited exhibitors and sponsors to display, showcase and sell their products.

“One of the plans we have going into next year is to make this event a cultural festival where we will make it a showcase of cultures and exhibitions. This will no longer be just a race but an event where people can meet and network,” said Kiplagat, President, Athletics Kenya.

Abraham Mutai, the Central Rift AK chairman, said the event will always feature a number of children’s races.

“We are very well prepared for the events this Saturday (today), our team has been on the ground this week to ensure everything is in place.

“Athletes have been training around this area and we expect the event to be a success,” he said.

Winners of the individual races will take home Sh50,000, runner-ups 40,000 and second runner-ups 30,000 and prizes trickles down to the fifth finisher.