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By:
Harrison Maina | |||||||||
| Posted:
Apr,26-2015 19:14:29
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BOSTON--So close was the margin of victory during Monday's women's division race at the Boston Marathon that even the announcer on the loudspeakers also got caught up and declared Mare Dibaba the Ethiopian, who had been leading for most of the race the winner.
Taking cue from the announcer, Kenyan fans present, including the Ambassador to the US, five visiting members of Parliament, and a popular Kenyan musician present took in a deep breath in an apparent acceptance of a number two slot, and in readiness for a really bad day as things on the still ongoing men's race did not look so promising, with two Ethiopians leading Kenyan men by a comfortable margin all the way to the end.
Then all of a sudden, the Kenyan national anthem blared from the loud speakers as Boston Mayor, Marty Walsh presented the women's division winner's trophy to non -other than, well, Calorine Rotich from Kenya! Soon after, Ambassador Robinson Githae, the five MPs and Jaguar the music artiste started exchanging high fives in realization that at least Kenya took the women's title despite failing to reclaim the men's title thy lost last year to USA's Meb Keflezighi. Meb finished a distant 8th during Monday's marathon. "This is very exciting.The race was too close and it is good to know that our ladies won the race. I congratulate Caroline Rotich for the hard earned victory. Our men also their best and although they did not take the title, we hope next year they will win it," said the Ambassador as he cheerfully waved the Kenyan flag while bundled in special cold weather gear provided to VIP's braving the cold chilly weather in Boston at the time. "I am very glad that I was able to come here and join other Kenyans to cheer our runners. We are very proud of them," he added. "We congratulate all our runners for the great effort they put in, especially the winner, Caroline Rotich, and Wesley Korir, the members of Parliament who ran and came in number 5," said Hon. Dan Wanyama, MP for Webuye West while talking to Ajabu Africa News. Wanyama, whose son Tom Bush Wamukota, plays in the NCCA basketball for Wichita State University suggested that Wesley Korir, the MP who run the race to be accorded a standing ovation in Parliament once they return to Kenyan. "Running and finishing this marathon is not an easy thing, especially for an MP like Honorable Korir who has a lot of other things to deal with in his constituency back home. I suggest members of Parliament to give him a standing ovation for this effort once we return back home," he added. Describing the race as tough, Rotich the winning star said that she realized in the final minutes as they throttled down Boylston Avenue towards the finish line that she still had some juice left in the tank and if she applied a bit of a "kick", she could overtake the highly competitive Ethiopian. "I felt I had a kick in me on the final stretch. So I decided to go for it and I am happy I was able to break the tape first," she told Ajabu Africa during an interview at the Fairmont Copley Place as she took pictures with Ambassador Githae, the members of Parliament and several fans who had made their way into the hotel. An equally excited Dr. Isaya Okwiya, Rotich's manager of Kenyan descent who is also a family medicine doctor based in Baltimore Maryland said that he was overjoyed for the win. "I am glad we came to Boston and won this thing.It's a great feeling," he said. Later in the evening, the Kenyan Ambassador attended the official awards ceremony where all top ten elite winners were recognized and awarded. During the event, the Boston Marathon Association (B.A.A) officials recognized the presence of Ambassador Githae at the awards ceremony. "We are glad to announce the presence of a very special guest here tonight. Please help me welcome the Kenyan Ambassador to the US, Robinson Githae. Ambassador Githae was here all day to cheer the Kenyan runners," said the one of the BAA officials drawing a thunderous applause from several hundred guests present including dozens of Kenyan fans. "The Ambassador was also in Boston to attend the Boston Kenyan Festival," he added drawing more applause. The Ambassador and Kenyan fans then took pictures with the winning Kenyan before parting ways and promising to be back in full swing next year. | |||||||||
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Source:
Ajabu Africa News
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