Safaricom Kisumu City Marathon Set For Sunday

Over 700 athletes are expected to take part in the 12th edition of the Safaricom Kisumu City Marathon this weekend. The marathon will be flagged off at the Kenyatta Sports Ground and will be the last race in this season’s Safaricom Athletics Series.

Elkana Yegon and Diana Chepkemoi, who won last year’s race will be back for another shot at the title.

"Preparations for the marathon are in top gear with registration set to end just a day before the race. We expect a competitive event because some elite athletes including last year’s winners have confirmed participation and we will use this marathon to encourage the youth in the area to embrace athletics,” said Joseph Ochieng, Nyanza North Athletics Kenya Chairman

The event will feature different categories including the full marathon (42km), 10km race, 8km event for junior men and 6km race for junior women. There will also be a 2km race for boys and girls and a 1km competition for children and veterans.

The first three athletes to cross the line in the full marathon will walk away with KES 500,000, KES 250,000 and KES 100,000, respectively.

“It has been yet another exciting season of the Safaricom Athletics Series which has given us an opportunity to witness firsthand the amount of sporting talent that Kenya is blessed with. Through the different races we have seen more young men and women from all over the country realise their dreams of excelling in sports. We remain committed to providing a platform from which our athletes can launch their careers and receive valuable training as they seek to represent Kenya at the highest levels”, said Sylvia Mulinge, Chief Customer Officer, Safaricom.

The marathon closes this year’s Safaricom Athletics Series calendar which included; Henry Wanyoike Road Race, Kenya Police and Kenya Prisons Athletics Championships, Kisii Half Marathon, Deaf Half Marathon, Iten Road race, Mombasa International Marathon, Isaiah Kiplagat Road Race, Madoka Half Marathon, Deaf Youth Athletics Championship and South Imenti Road Race.