Nairobi City Marathon will reward the top 20 finishers in Sunday's race, the organisers have revealed.
During an event briefing at Nyayo Stadium on Wednesday, Athletics Kenya Youth Development Committee chairman Barnaba Korir said the winner will pocket Sh3.5m with the 20th finisher taking home Sh30,000.
The runners-up will walk home with Sh2.25m while third-place finishers will bag Sh1.5m.
This marks a reduction in the winners' prize reward and an increase in the number of beneficiaries.
Last year, the winners in both the 42km races pocketed Sh6m where only the top three were rewarded.
“Last year the prize was Sh6m but this year it will reduce to Sh3.5m so that the top 20 can be rewarded for their work. The 20th athlete will get Sh30,000. This is the first time we have athletes getting awarded from number one to 20,” Korir said.
The winners of the half marathon will earn Sh150,000 each with the runner-ups collecting Sh80,000. Third-place finishers will walk home with Sh30,000 prize money. A total of Sh355,000 will be given out in this race.
In the 10km category, the winners will pocket Sh100,000 while positions two and three finishers will bag Sh50,000 and Sh40,000 respectively.
"This marathon will really benefit our Kenyan athletes, especially, the upcoming ones — who have the chance to make some good money," Korir added.
Race director Ibrahim Hussein said preparations are at the homestretch and the technical team is working tirelessly to ensure an improved event from last year's inaugural contest.
So far 8,800 athletes have registered for the race including 192 from China as well as 28 from neighouring countries and abroad.
