The 2013 New York City Marathon champion Prisca Jeptoo leads elite runners at this year’s Standard Chartered Bank Nairobi Marathon on Sunday.
Jeptoo has a personal best time of 2:20:14 which she posted in London in 2012 when she placed third. She will have the company of the 2021 HOKA Ravenna City of Art Marathon champion Shyline Jepkorir. Jepkorir placed second at this year's Eldoret City Marathon in a time of 2:30:13 and has a personal best time of 2:29:17.
In the men’s category, the 2015 Lisboa Marathon champion Asbel Kipsang starts favourite. Kipsang has a lifetime best of 2:07:30 which he posted in the 2016 Seoul Marathon when he placed sixth. He will be in the company of debutants Ezra Tanui and Bravin Kiprop.
Speaking at Uhuru Gardens during a press conference, the Local Organising Committee chair Peter Gitau revealed that the event has also attracted athletes from Tanzania and Uganda and he is optimistic more international athletes will register.
“We are very excited that the race has attracted runners from within and outside the country. We are hoping more will join,” Gitau said, adding that the event has so far attracted 14,700 athletes.
“807 participants have registered for the full marathon; 4,000 for the half marathon and 6,509 for the 10km race. For the wheelchair race, we have 97 registered athletes, and 2700 for the family fun race. Fourteen teams have registered for the 42km corporate relays,” he revealed.
With regard to prize money, Gitau said they will work together with the Anti-Doping Agency of Kenya to ensure the results are out within two months in order to avoid delays.
“Prize money is subject to the test results. We shall work with ADAK to avoid late payment,” he said, adding that they will ensure the athletes run clean.
Event organizers, A6 Sport Team Principal Evans Ondeje said the race will begin at 6:45 a.m at Carnivore grounds along the Southern Bypass towards Ole Sereni heading to the College of Insurance.
The athletes will then take a left turn towards the Inland Container Deport and head towards the Eastern Gate of the Kenya Wildlife Services.
They will then take a U-turn towards Carnivore onto the Mombasa Road bypass, Langata Road, and Shree Temple into the Southern Bypass interchange. They will then head to Karen all the way to Kibera into Ngong Road and back to the Southern Bypass interchange.
They will then pass Ngong Road Sanctuary, proceed to Kikuyu Southern Bypass interchange, Alliance Concrete back to Carnivore Ring road and back to the finish.
Meanwhile, Mary Kiarie, the Deputy OCPD-Traffic Nairobi County, announced all roads leading to the Southern Bypass towards Langata Road will be closed from Sunday from 12:00 am. to 1:30 pm
The half marathon race will commence at 7:00 (both the men’s and women's) while the 10km race and 5km Family Fun Run will start at 7:45 a.m. and 8:30 a.m. respectively.
