All Set for the 2015 Mombasa International Marathon

Prize money increased as race organizers seek to attract more local and international athletes

Sept. 25th 2015…  Preparations for the 32nd edition of the Mombasa International Marathon are in top gear ahead of the event to be held on 27th September in Mombasa.

The marathon – sponsored by the County Government of Mombasa and Safaricom as part of the Safaricom Athletics Series – will be flagged off by the Deputy Governor Hazel Katana at Mama Ngina Drive and is expected to bring together over 1,000 local and international athletes.

This year’s race will see the overall winner awarded a cash prize of Kshs.1.5 million, a significant increase from last year’s Kshs.200, 000. The 1st and 2nd runners up will take home Kshs.650, 000 and Kshs.350, 000 respectively.

The 2015 edition of the race will also see the introduction of the 10Km race, whose winner, 1st and 2nd runners up will pocket Kshs.110, 000, Kshs.60, 000 and Kshs.30, 000 respectively.

“We are very proud to host yet another big event in this County soon after the Mombasa International Cultural Festival that we held in August. We are determined to keep promoting Mombasa as a destination not just for sun and sand tourism, but for culture and sports,” said Mombasa County Deputy Governor Hazel Katana. “Such events also give us an opportunity to encourage sports men and women to come and showcase their talent, while at the same time showing the youth of Mombasa that athletics is something they can earn a living from.”

Safaricom is sponsoring the Mombasa International Marathon for the 8th year running, and has this year set aside Kshs.2.5 million for event.

“Safaricom has always been very keen on supporting athletics, an initiative that we are happy is contributing to the great performances of our athletes in major global competitions as witnessed recently at the IAAF World Championships in Beijing,” said Zaheeda Suleman, Head of Department, Brand Experience, Safaricom. “The Mombasa International Marathon provides a great platform to identify and nurture sporting talent, and our sponsorship of the event is an expression of our commitment to supporting sports in different parts of the country.”

The County Government of Mombasa has committed Kshs.15 million in sponsorship through the Department of Youth, Gender and Sports, headed by County Executive Mr. Mohammed Abbas. “We are encouraging all Mombasa residents to turn out in large numbers to cheer the athletes and enjoy a fun filled day at Mama Ngina Drive this Sunday. There will be lots of entertainment from our biggest Mombasa artistes and games for kids.”

Last year, the marathon was won by three-time winner of the Safaricom Marathon in Lewa Fridah Lodepa in a time of 2:41.34, and Paul Kangogo who finished in a time of 2:11.22.

After this the Safaricom Athletics Series will move to Eldoret for the Ndaalat Gaa Cross Country Race set for October 10th. Other events set to take place before the end of the Safaricom Athletics Series include: Madoka Marathon, Tegla Loroupe, Kass International Marathon, Imenti South Road Race and Kisumu Town Marathon.

Prize money increased as race organizers seek to attract more local and international athletes

Sept. 25th 2015…  Preparations for the 32nd edition of the Mombasa International Marathon are in top gear ahead of the event to be held on 27th September in Mombasa.

The marathon – sponsored by the County Government of Mombasa and Safaricom as part of the Safaricom Athletics Series – will be flagged off by the Deputy Governor Hazel Katana at Mama Ngina Drive and is expected to bring together over 1,000 local and international athletes.

This year’s race will see the overall winner awarded a cash prize of Kshs.1.5 million, a significant increase from last year’s Kshs.200, 000. The 1st and 2nd runners up will take home Kshs.650, 000 and Kshs.350, 000 respectively.

The 2015 edition of the race will also see the introduction of the 10Km race, whose winner, 1st and 2nd runners up will pocket Kshs.110, 000, Kshs.60, 000 and Kshs.30, 000 respectively.

“We are very proud to host yet another big event in this County soon after the Mombasa International Cultural Festival that we held in August. We are determined to keep promoting Mombasa as a destination not just for sun and sand tourism, but for culture and sports,” said Mombasa County Deputy Governor Hazel Katana. “Such events also give us an opportunity to encourage sports men and women to come and showcase their talent, while at the same time showing the youth of Mombasa that athletics is something they can earn a living from.”

Safaricom is sponsoring the Mombasa International Marathon for the 8th year running, and has this year set aside Kshs.2.5 million for event.

“Safaricom has always been very keen on supporting athletics, an initiative that we are happy is contributing to the great performances of our athletes in major global competitions as witnessed recently at the IAAF World Championships in Beijing,” said Zaheeda Suleman, Head of Department, Brand Experience, Safaricom. “The Mombasa International Marathon provides a great platform to identify and nurture sporting talent, and our sponsorship of the event is an expression of our commitment to supporting sports in different parts of the country.”

The County Government of Mombasa has committed Kshs.15 million in sponsorship through the Department of Youth, Gender and Sports, headed by County Executive Mr. Mohammed Abbas. “We are encouraging all Mombasa residents to turn out in large numbers to cheer the athletes and enjoy a fun filled day at Mama Ngina Drive this Sunday. There will be lots of entertainment from our biggest Mombasa artistes and games for kids.”

Last year, the marathon was won by three-time winner of the Safaricom Marathon in Lewa Fridah Lodepa in a time of 2:41.34, and Paul Kangogo who finished in a time of 2:11.22.

After this the Safaricom Athletics Series will move to Eldoret for the Ndaalat Gaa Cross Country Race set for October 10th. Other events set to take place before the end of the Safaricom Athletics Series include: Madoka Marathon, Tegla Loroupe, Kass International Marathon, Imenti South Road Race and Kisumu Town Marathon.