Veteran runner Kamande roots for Meru marathon
Kenya’s oldest marathoner Stephen Kamande has taken the Masters Class a notch higher after mobilising a host of runners who shall compete in a 10-kilometre Mount Kenya race to be held in Meru on February 26.
Kamande, 72, has lured about 30 contestants from his rural home in Maragua, Murang’a County and an almost similar number from Meru and its environs.
The septuagenarian, who will also be one of the competitors, won the 2022 edition that received support of former Meru Governor Kiraitu Murungi.
In the meantime, Kamande has made an impassioned appeal to current governor Kawira Mwangaza to replicate the philanthropy of her predecessor to make the event a success.
Silver medal
“I congratulate Mwangaza for being elected the new Meru Governor and I now appeal to her to offer any kind of support to the marathon which is increasingly gaining popularity in the county,” said Kamande when he visited People Sport offices in DSM Place yesterday.
One of Kamande’s success highlights was winning the silver medal in the World Half Marathon event in the 60-64 years age category during the 2016 International Association of Athletics Federation (IAAF) World Masters Athletics Championships held in Perth, Australia.
The Meru race will come hot on the heels of the 10-kilometre Maragua Marathon held at Gakoigo Stadium on December 24, 2022 where Kamande came second behind a 60-year Peter Ndirangu in Masters Class category.
Kamande, a regular figure at World Masters Athletics, hailed Murang’a County Sports Officers Noah Gachuche and Joyce Mwangi as well as the region’s Athletics Kenya (AK) Secretary Eliud Nguma for making the event a success.
He also thanked AK Nairobi branch chairman Barnaba Korir and Rose Muya for their contribution to ensuring that athletics talent in Maragua was tapped to the fullest.
