Discovery Kenya 30th edition to woo more athletes after prize money hike
Prize money for this year’s Discovery Kenya cross country event will be increased as the marathon marks 30 years since it was first established.
The announcement by organisers of the race who also revealed that the increase in prize money aims to attract more elite athletes to compete in the annual race which is set for January 31 at the Eldoret Sports Club.
Winners of the 10km senior men and women races will now bag Sh25,000 up from the previous Sh20,000 while the winners of the junior races (8km boys and 6km girls) will pocket Sh15,000 from Sh10,000.
David Leting, one of the race organisers, says the top 10 finishers in each category will also earn cash prizes with those who finish in the top 50 also entitled to rewards.
“We have decided to increase the prize money in this year’s event since we know that our athletes have suffered a lot due to challenges brought about by Covid-19.
We therefore urge athletes to turn up in numbers as we do not charge anything for registration.
Our intention is actually to support our athletes,” Leting told People Sport.
He said this year’s edition will take place under strict Covid-19 guidelines.
“We have set up measures to conform to the Ministry of Health protocols to contain Covid-19 and I want to assure our athletes of their safety at the Eldoret Sports Club,” said Letting.
The race was the only athletics show that was staged in 2020, before sports competitions were cancelled in an unprecedented move to prevent the spread of Covid-19.
Eldoret sport’s club is known Eldoret Sports is one of the most challenging courses in the country.
Among the athletes that have grown through the Discovery Kenya cross country are World women marathon record holder Brigid Kosgei , multiple 10,000m world champion Vivian Cheruiyot, two-time Paris marathon champion Paul Lonyangata and former world half marathon champion Bedan
Karoki, Discovery Kenya cross country has become the pot where Kenyan talents are brewed before being served to the world.
Former Beijing marathon champion Valary Aiyabei has also been a common participant in the Rosa Associati-sponsored Discovery Kenya show.
