Sports

Second edition of Nairobi City Marathon pushed to June 2

Friday, May 12th, 2023 10:00 | By
Nairobi City Marathon race director Ibrahim Hussein speaks to media on Thursday at Kasarani. PHOTO/Courtesy

The second edition of the richest marathon in Africa, the Nairobi City Marathon is now scheduled to take place on July 2, on the Express Way.

Initially, the race was set to take place on May 21, but has been postponed due to what the organisers term as a congestion of athletics events this month in and out of the country.

Race Director Ibrahim Hussein says the call for rescheduling will help to attract more big name athletes who are participating in other major races in May and June.

“This is the biggest and the most attractive marathon in Kenya. We did it last year, just a day after the Kip Keino Classic. It was successful although there was strain on technical part. This year we are moving the event to 2nd July. The reasons why we have moved the date it is because we have sat down and looked at the global athletics calendar and we have noted there are some big events in which our athletes are competing in. We want to give them time so that in July we can get some top athletes to join us,” Hussein told People Daily Sport.

Hussein further noted that athletes who will not be able to feature in the event due to the postponement and had registered prior to the new date announcement will be refunded.

About 10,000 runners participated in the race last year and Athletics Kenya has set a target of 20,000 participants for this year’s run that is just two months away.

Hussein said that so far 2,500 athletes had already registered for this year’s version of the event and expected the number to rise drastically in the run up to the event.

The course for the race remains the same, which is on the expressway, although the organizers are looking forward to making amends at the starting point.

Registration has been opened for both online and physical entries for 42km (Sh1500), 21km (Sh1200, 10km (Sh 1,000) and 5km (Sh 500).

Last year, Brimin Misoi and Agness Barsosio braved a chilly Nairobi weather to win the inaugural race in men’s and women’s full marathon, taking home Sh 6 million each.

More on Sports


ADVERTISEMENT