The second edition of the Nairobi City Marathon is set to take place this Sunday along the Expressway, with close to 9,000 athletes already registered.
Athletics Kenya (AK) president Jackson Tuwei, who also chairs the local organizing committee, expects more participants to register before the deadline on Saturday midnight.
Several elite athletes have already registered for the full marathon, including Edwin Kemboi, who finished fourth in this year’s Seoul Marathon with a personal best (PB) of 2:06:52. Other fast runners like Joshua Kipsang (2:08:09), Simon Kipkosgei (2:07:07), and Robert Kipkemboi (2:07:09) are also among the participants.
From Ethiopia, Maseret Yitbarek (2:11:34), Desta Tafa (2:11:13), and Haile Assefa are leading the foreign contingent confirmed for the race.
In the women’s 42km race, Kenyan runners Lydia Simiyu (2:25:44), Sheila Chepkoech (2:27:04), and Sharon Cheimo (2:33:03) are expected to compete.
Athletes can register online through the official website, www.nairobicitymarathon.com, for the four events: 42km, 21km, 10km, and the 6km fun run.
Tuwei revealed that the number of registered athletes is continually changing and expects the total to surpass 10,000 by Thursday or Friday. He expressed confidence that this edition will be more successful than the first and encouraged everyone to register before the Saturday midnight deadline.
Tuwei also called on counties to sponsor athletes, providing more opportunities for runners to compete in the event, which is currently the only local marathon being held in the country.
Race director Ibrahim Hussein anticipates a tough competition with over 60 elite athletes, both local and foreign, already registered. The full list of entries will be released on Friday, as more athletes are expected to sign up in the coming days.
The race is scheduled to start and finish at Nyayo Stadium, with athletes running along the closed Expressway for the majority of Sunday.
Local athletes registered with fees of Ksh1,500 for the 42km race, Ksh1,200 for the half marathon, Ksh1,000 for the 10km race, and Ksh500 for the 6km race. International participants will pay $90 for the 42km race, $60 for the 21km race, $40 for the 10km race, and $20 for the 6km race.
Winners of the 42km race will receive Ksh3.5 million, while the second and third-place finishers will be awarded Ksh2.25 million and Ksh1.5 million, respectively. The victors in the half marathon will pocket Ksh150,000, and Ksh100,000 will be awarded to the winners of the 6km race.
Royal Media Services is the official media partner of the event, and the marathon will be broadcast live on all their channels.
