The Safaricom Iten road race – which is the second in the Safaricom Athletics Series Long Distance Races category – has received a Kshs.1 Million sponsorship from Safaricom bringing the total sponsorship for this race over the years to almost Kshs.6 Million.
The event will take place at Elgeyo Marakwet County this weekend, and about 500 athletes are expected to participate in the annual event, up from over 350 that took part last year.
“Registration has been ongoing, we expect the turn out to be higher than last year based on the interest and enquiries we have been receiving for the last one month. All preparations are on course to ensure that the event runs smoothly. We are expecting athletes from many parts of the country mainly Eldoret and other parts of the Rift region,” said Kibet Biwott, the race organizer.
The 10km road race will be flagged off at the Eldoret – Iten road at the boundary between Elgeyo Marakwet and Uasin Gishu County at 8.30am on Saturday 6th August, with the finish point at Iten grounds.
“Our involvement in this event is a sign of our continued commitment to supporting athletics right from the grassroots levels, as we seek to identify and groom more champions to represent us at bigger international meets such as the one Team Kenya is participating in in Rio de Janeiro this month,” said Sylvia Mulinge, Director Consumer Business Unit – Safaricom.
Ms. Mulinge also urged Kenyans to rally behind the Kenyan team that has travelled to Brazil.
“As we prepare for the Iten Road race this weekend, I also wish to encourage all Kenyans to stand with our Kenyan champions in Rio because I know they will make us proud,” she said, adding: ”Tushangilie Kenya.”
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Last year, Gladys Chesir won the women’s 10KM race in a time of 00:34:00 while Albert Kangogo took the crown in the men’s race in a time of 00:30:00
Winners of this year’s Iten Road Race will walk away with Kshs.40,000, 30,000,15,000 and10,000 for positions 1,2,3 and 4 respectively in both men’s and women’s races. Positions five to ten will also be awarded.
Next week, Safaricom Athletics Series will pitch tent in Kisii for the Kisii Half Marathon, after which the Series will move to Mombasa for the Mombasa International Marathon
Other races in the Series include: Ndalat Gaa Cross Country, Madoka Half Marathon, Imenti South Road Race and Kisumu Town Marathon, which will wind up this year’s edition in December.
