Yegon, Chepkemoi Set To Defend Kisumu City Marathonn Titles

 KISUMU, Kenya – Trans Nzoia based Elkana Yegon will be out to defend the men’s title for the third time in a row at the 12th edition of Safaricom Kisumu City Marathon on Saturday.

Madrid Rock 'n' Roll Marathon silver medalist, Diana Chepkemoi, will defend the women’s crown in the race that has attracted over 700 participants.

"Preparations for the event is in top gear with the registration set to end on Friday. We expect competitive to be top notch since other elite athletes  have come on board to oust the reigning champions,” Athletics Kenya (AK) Nyanza North Branch Chairman, Joseph Ochieng, underlined.

The competition, whose objective is to encourage youths in the region to embrace athletics, will start at the Kenyatta Sports Ground which will also be the finish point.

Categories  to be contested are the 42km and 10km for senior men and women, 8km for junior men and 6km race for junior women, 2km for boys and girls and 1km contest for children and veterans.

“The first three athletes to cross the line in the full marathon will walk away with KSh500,000, KSh 250,000 and KSh 100,000  in that order,” Ochieng underscored.

The Series

Sylvia Mulinge, Chief Customer Officer, Safaricom, noted that the AK Series, which the event is part of, gave more young men and women from around the country opportunity to realise their dreams in sports.

“We remain committed to providing a platform from which our athletes can launch their careers and receive valuable training as they seek to represent Kenya at the highest levels,” Mulinge highlighted.

Other races  that were part of the Series  includes the Henry Wanyoike Road Race, Kenya Police and Kenya Prisons Athletics Championships, Kisii Half Marathon and the Deaf Half Marathon.

Other are the Iten Road race, Mombasa International Marathon, Isaiah Kiplagat Road Race, Madoka Half Marathon, Deaf Youth Athletics Championship and South Imenti Road Race.