Top 20 winners of the fifth Edition of the Eldoret City Marathon were awarded their prize at a celebratory event held at Eldoret Sports club.
The 20 winners in the 42.195KM men’s and 42.195 KM women’s race were awarded a total of Sh18 million, with the champions Victor Kipchirchir and Emily Chepkemoi each walking away with Sh3.5 million.
The Eldoret city marathon director Moses Tanui confirmed that no athlete breached anti-doping regulations after all tests conducted by the Anti-Doping Authority of Kenya (ADAK) came up negative.
“I appreciate the sponsors and athletes for trusting the race as the race will continue to provide a platform for the young and unknown long distance running athletes to launch their careers and to be spotted by the sports management,” he said.
The Chief Guest, Gladys Boss Shollei and Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly noted that the Eldoret City Marathon is back, bigger, bold and better for posterity.
She noted that the Athletics Kenya (AK) has assured the athletes that before the race is approved they must make sure that the prize money is secured by AK so that they do not have challenges.
She confirmed to the athletes that they are already sourcing the prize money for the next Eldoret city marathon which will be on April 27, 2025.
“We have discussed with AK and the sponsors how to further improve some of the challenges that the athletes are facing like the challenges of visas , passport and those items we are clearly aware of it and we are going to come up with a method so that we have one stop shop in Eldoret,” said Boss.
“Some of the issues the athletes have raised is medical insurance and those are some of the challenges we have to look at and we are going to make sure they are registered on the new system and those who are not able to pay for themselves we will be able to facilitate the payment,” she added.
“We must continue to teach the athletes on financial literacy so that when athletes receive prize money they do not end up being conned or making bad financial decisions and that is something we must continue to teach them to ensure they keep their money for sustainability,” she noted.
“On communication skills we are going to work on that and train them on public speaking so that they can overcome shyness so that they can speak eloquently when they are being interviewed,” added Boss.
She encouraged the athletes to always speak in a language they are comfortable with and understand they should not be under pressure to speak in a language that they are not fluent at even when they go on international races they should have access to a translator.
She pleaded with AK that they should assist to ensure that the paper work of Eldoret City Marathon becomes organized to ensure the marathon lasts longer and is sustainable.
The Athletics Kenya Youth Development chairman Barnaba Korir, said that the AK will keep working with the race organizers in order to produce a world class marathon and grow into one of the biggest competitions country wide.
Paul Mutwi,senior vice president of AK ,stated that the Eldoret city marathon is currently the highest paying marathon in the nation and urged professional athletes and sponsors to publicize it.
By Judy Too and Ekuwam Slyvester
