All set for Madoka race

By Erick Ochieng’ and Ernest ndunda

Local and international marathoners are gearing up for the Fifth edition of the Madoka Half Marathon to be staged in Taita Taveta on Saturday.

Mobile telephone service provider, Safaricom, boosted the prize money with Sh800,000 sponsorship.

Brookside, which is sponsoring the race for the fourth year running, contributed Sh250,000 towards the race, including material support

Race patron, Marsden Madoka (centre), Safaricom Public Relations Manager Washington Akumu (right) and officials during cheque presentation ceremony for the Madoka Half-Marathon race. [PHOTOS :JONAH ONYANGO/ STANDARD]

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New sponsors, General Motors (GM), through their Isuzu brand, also sponsored the race to a tune of Sh350,000. GM Chief Executive Officer (East Africa) Bill Lay said: "We look forward to partnering with the organisers for a long period of time. We will unveil bigger things for the race in the near future," said

Support

Safaricom Public Relations Manager Washington Akumu said the company was supporting the race to give Taita Taveta residents a chance to develop skills to enable them win international events should they get a chance to participate.

Marsden Madoka, the race patron, said he started the race, run in Ngereni area of Taita Taveta County, as the area has a high altitude like the Rift Valley, which is home to world-beaters in marathon.

"Most people who have run this race have made it big out there. Last year, we had 46 international athletes, who were part of the 640 participants," said Madoka. Madoka has also sponsored football tournaments in the area to diversify sports. He said he would soon add football to the annual calendar of the event.

The winners of the Saturday race will get Sh100,000 in both men and women’s categories. Runners-up will bag Sh60,000, while Sh40,000 will be awarded to third place finishers. Fourth-placed finishers will get Sh20,000. All the top ten finishers will be awarded.

Other categories to be run include veterans’ race for men aged over 45 years and women over 35, where winners would be awarded.

Meanwhile, Athletics Kenya Coast Branch Chairman Kimoni Kisalu said the branch has sanctioned the event, adds Ernest Ndunda.

He said invitations have been sent across the country, with Rift Valley expected to provide the bulk of the elite runners. Kisalu said in order to encourage the participation of local athletes, the 10km race is only open for runners from the Coast region.

Categories to be competed in include 4km boys and girls’ race, 6km junior women’s race and 8km junior men’s race. Winners of the veterans’ race would be awarded with cash.