The third edition of the Nyamira 21-km Great Run earlier scheduled for this Sunday has been postponed indefinitely.
Athletics Kenya (AK) Nyanza South chairman, Peter Angwenyi did not give the reasons for shelving the highly anticipated race.
Speaking to journalists in Kisii town on Sunday, Angwenyi said: “We decided to postpone the race after consultations with the main sponsor the County Government of Nyamira. New dates will be announced soon but we are thinking of holding the race after the Paris Olympics,” said Angwenyi.
“I know athletes were gearing up for the event but the postponement was inevitable. The athletes should now focus on the regional track and field championships to be held next weekend,” said Angwenyi.
He added: “Last year, the event attracted more than 300 athletes. This year, we want to make it bigger and better.”
Marathoners Winfridah Moseti and Leonard Langat bagged last year’s titles and pocketed Sh250,000.
At the same time, the Nyanza South track and field championships will be held on Friday (May 3), Angwenyi announced. Angwenyi said the event will be held at Kisii University.
“However, if the rains persist, we might move the event to Cardinal Otunga High School, Mosocho,” he noted.
He said selected athletes from Riooga, St Peter’s Keberesi and Kiendege Athletics Kenya Youth Camps have been invited for the championship.
“Some of the athletes are from Zanzibar, where they represented the country at the East Africa Under-18 and 20 Championships which concluded on Saturday. We have invited them to take part in the championship as part of their preparations for the World Under 20 trials,” said Angwenyi.
He added: “As a region, we want to have more than five athletes in the Kenyan team for the World Under 20 championships to be held in Lima, Peru in August.”
During the regional showpiece in Zanzibar, James Gechuki of Riooga clinched gold in 800m while Keberesi’s Beatrice Machoka won gold in 400m.
