Ndakaini Half Marathon champion Patrick Kipng’eno will be hoping to defend his title when the 2017 of the UAP Old Mutual-sponsored race take place in Ndakai-ini on Saturday.
Kipng’eno headlines a contingent of 150 elite athletes who have confirmed their participation in the 14th edition of the race which has attracted 4,000 entries so far.
The race will also see the return of seasoned long distance runner Lucy Kabuu, a former Commonwealth champion.
Kabuu, who is also a former world cross country silver medalist, is returning after a lengthy layout with injury.
She will be seeking to win the title she won in the 2005 edition of the annual race.
The organizers of the event who dug deep into their coffers a month ago to increase the prize money from Sh200,000 to Sh300,000 received a financial boost from Murang’a governor Mwangi Wairia who pledged to gift an additional Sh100,000 to any athlete who will break the records in his/her respective category. The male and female records remain unchallenged at 1:04:47 and 1:14:34 respectively.
Meanwhile, James Wambugu, UAP Old Mutual group managing director sounded a warning to cheats saying prizes will be awarded after a rigorous doping test.
“We will give awards after a test to march the international standards. The preparations for the event are complete and we expect not less than 10, 000 spectators. We have athletes from Ghana and Ethiopia in this edition where we will let the 150 elite runners to take off earlier than the rest. We will have our usual half marathon, 10km and 5km races,” said Wambugu.
Both winners in the half marathon race will pocket Sh300, 000 while the winners of the 10km race will bank Sh45,000.
Children who emerge winners in the 5km race will be given shopping vouchers worth Sh7, 000.
