Imenti South Road Race Receives Ksh 1 Million Boost From Safaricom

The 13^th Edition of the Imenti South Road Race has today received KES 1 million from Safaricom which will go towards preparation for the event set for 8^th December. Over 700 athletes from across the country are expected to take part in the 15KM road race which will be flagged off at Nkubu stadium in Meru.

Part of the sponsorship will go towards prize money with the winners in the senior races walking away with KES 100,000 each. The second and third placed finishers will take home KES 50,000 and KES 25,000 respectively.

“We have a long successful partnership with Athletics Kenya and this is our 11^th year partnering with them for this particular race. We have come back time and again because of the promise we see in our young talent who go on to make us proud in international meets. They don’t emerge out of a vacuum but depend on such platforms to hone their talent,” said Charles Kare, Director Consumer Business Unit, Safaricom.

The race categories include; 15km race for seniors, 4km for Masters (55 years and above), 200m Wheelchair race, 4 km for 11-14-year-old Boys and Girls, 8km & 6 km for 15 -19-year-old Boys & Girls and a 2km VIP race.

The top ten winners in all the categories will be awarded cash prizes with the top three local athletes from the main race also receiving KES 20,000, KES 10,000 and KES 6,000 respectively.

Last year’s winner Moses Koech is expected to put up a brave fight to defend his title and improve on his current time of 49 minutes and 24 seconds. Other high-profile athletes expected include Morris Munene, who was the second runners up in 2018, former World Half Marathon Silver Medalist and 2011 Rotterdam Champ Phillis Ongori, and long-distance runners Maryanne Wangari and Polline Njeru.

“This year, we have increased the categories and made sure that more athletes are awarded for their efforts. We are awarding as many athletes as possible with cash prizes because we know they need resources to buy training gear, afford the right diet regimen and to register for more races as they prepare to take part in the Olympic qualifiers scheduled for June 2020,” said Local Organising Committee Chairman Kimathi Mutuerandu.

Athletes can register for the race at the Athletics Kenya head office in Riadha house, select registration points in Nkubu and the Sports Office at the Meru County Government offices.

The Safaricom Imenti Road Race has produced a pool of athletes who have excelled both locally and internationally, including: Cyprian Kiogora, Isaac Kipkoech, Daniel Muteti, Lucy Karimi, Nancy Kathure, Betty Murungi, Esther Murugi, Dorothy Karimi, Timothy Kinoti, Alex Murithi, Stephen Mungathia, Kenneth Kimathi, Peter Mwololo, Monicah Muthoni, Daniel Mbogo, Elijah Mbogo, Jedidah Wanjiru and Frashia Nyambura among others.

This year Safaricom has sponsored ten long-distance races and track and field events under the Safaricom Athletics Series. So far 8 races have taken place including the Henry Wanyoike Road Run, 6th Deaf Half Marathon in Kericho, National Trials for 1st Africa Deaf Athletics Championships as well as the Iten Road Race, the Madoka Half Marathon, Isaiah Kiplagat Memorial Ndalat cross-country, Mombasa and Kisii road races with the Kisumu road race to take place later in December.

ten Road Race, the Madoka Half Marathon, Isaiah Kiplagat Memorial Ndalat cross-country, Mombasa and Kisii road races with the Kisumu road race to take place later in December.