Former Philadelphia Half Marathon champion Kisorio to defend Ndakaini title

Mathew Kisorio

Former Philadelphia Half Marathon champion Mathew Kisorio will defend his title for a third time in the Ndakaini Half Marathon.

 Kisorio will battle it out against Olympic-bound Bedan Karoki who is also part of the elite athletes who have so far registered for the 13th edition of the race slated for September 12 in Murang'a County.

Karoki, a silver medallist at the World Half Marathon and the World Cross Country championships, was recently awarded a wild card entry in men’s 10,000m by the National Olympics Committee of Kenya after the Rio Olympics qualifiers last month.

Other notable elite athletes who will grace the race include 2008 Beijing marathon silver medallist Catherine Ndereba, two-time world marathon champion Abel Kirui and Japan-based Paderborn Half Marathon champion Maryann Wangare.

The organisers are targeting 7,000 participants from last year’s 5,000. The proceeds are used to take care of the expansive Ndakaini dam that supplies Nairobi residents with water.

“This year’s theme for the race is ‘Run for Life in Good Company’ which stems from the group’s belief that when the marathon participants and sponsorship partners come together they will influence each other positively to achieve more as they are all in good company,” said UAP Old Mutual Group Managing Director James Wambugu.

As away of improving the marathon, the organisers said at a press conference in Nairobi yesterday that the level of security would be improved by contracting over 300 security personnel to assist in the race.