The inaugural Lake Victoria 10km Road Race set for this Friday in Busia County has attracted 2,000 athletes.
The race director, who is also a former Olympic Games 800m champion Wilfred Bungei, said the event will cater for both the young and old.
Apart from the elite men's 10km and women's 8km races, other categories will be 5-11 and 12-16 years old respectively.
“We will also feature men’s 35-46 years and women’s 46-59 years races plus another category featuring men and women above 60 years,” he noted.
Bungei exuded confidence that despite the region not having many athletics events, Friday’s event will be fireworks.
“This race has been taken to the people. As we all know, the region is not well covered in athletics but we want to ensure it is successful in a bid to inspire more athletes to take up athletics,” he said.
The 10km race will start at the showers of River Nzoia and culminate at the showers of Lake Victoria in Funyula, Busia County.
“We have to spread the good gospel of athletics for the whole country to know it pays to run. As a former athlete, I want every corner of this country to be represented in major championships,” said Bungei.
With the AK youth camps spread in the western region, starting with Ebwali in Vihiga County, Budalangi in Busia, and Mumias Central in Kakamega County, Bungei said the junior athletes will spice up the race.
“Busia has good athletes including Selfa Ajiambo, who will be part of the junior races,” he said.
He added that a healthy nation is a wealthy nation and with young and old generations competing on the same platform, it will create an atmosphere that will be lovable. “We must make Kenyans know that athletics pay and this race will feature Kenyans from all age categories,” he said.
Athletics Kenya (AK) Western Region chairman Francis Afundi said the race was a good move. “The race is a blessing for us and It will have a huge impact on the upcoming generation,” said Afundi.
