Murugi roots for mountain running
Two-time world mountain running champion Lucy Wambui Murigi has urged athletes in Nyandarua to exploit terrain in the county to conquer the sport.
Murigi said the county has mountainous locations that they can use to hone their mountain running skills.
Speaking in Ol Kalou during the Nyandarua County Cross Country championship, Murigi who won gold at the 2017 and 2018 World Mountain Running Championships said the sport is lucrative just like road and track running.
“Mountain running might be a new thing in Kenya because we are used to seeing people run marathons and track events but I want to say mountain running is as good and is very popular in Europe,” said Murigi.
She urged persons interested in venturing into the sport to take part in the second edition of Meru mountain running.
Murigi who hails from Kinangop in Nyandarua said she got interested in mountain running when she went to Europe to compete in ordinary athletics competitions.
She then ventured into the sport running 5km and won silver at her first world mountain running championships in 2014. She followed this with two back-to-back wins in 2017 in Premana, Italy, and in 2018 in Canillo, Andora.
“Mountain running just needs discipline and self confidence. I started by running local races in Europe before I started competing at the international level,” she said.
Nyandarua Governor Francis Kimemia said the county will explore areas that can become venues for mountain running.
He said mountainous places like Aberdare and Geta can be suitable for the sport.
Kimemia said his administration is determined to put measures in place that will see people exploit their sporting talent in all fields.
He urged his sports department to work with experts to come up with concept papers that will help the county come up with new facilities or improve existing ones for various sports.
“We want even people living with disabilities to be participating in sports in this county,” Kimemia said.
He announced that the county has set aside Sh200,000 to prepare the team for the Central Region Cross Country championships set for Ol Kalou Arboretum on February 6, 2021.
