PHOTO:

President Uhuru Kenyatta (left) flanked by Athletics Kenya President Jack Tuwei congratulates athletes at the finish line during Uhuru Classic Nairobi City Marathon at Nyayo National Stadium in Nairobi on May 8, 2022.

By:

Ayumba Ayodi

Posted:

May,09-2022 06:22:20

Two-time Standard Chartered Nairobi Marathon champion Brimin Misoi and experienced Agnes Barsosio are the men and women’s winners of the inaugural Uhuru Classic Nairobi City Marathon.

Brimin Kipkorir Misoi wins the men's 42km race during Uhuru Classic Nairobi City Marathon at Nyayo National Stadium in Nairobi on May 8, 2022.

Misoi, who won the Standard Chartered Nairobi Marathon in 2018 and 2018 added yet another feather to his city races accolades, clocking personal best two hours, 08 minutes and 30 seconds.

It was a great and beautiful Sunday morning for the 33-year-old Misoi, who hails from Elgeyo-Marakwet, after he pocketed Sh 6.9m, the best pay in his running career.

Misoi received the handsome cheque from President Uhuru Kenyatta, who started both the 42km and half marathon races before heading to the finish line to receive the winners.

First Lady Margaret Kenyatta participated in the 5km race, and too, was received at the finish line by the President, who was accompanied by Cabinet Secretary for Sports Amina Mohamed and Athletics Kenya president Jack Tuwei.

“It feels great and this should enable me to boost my farming activities back home in Marakwet. I also have three school-going children and this will help me continue giving them the best,” said Misoi, who won the Standard Chartered Marathon in 2017 on debut over the distance.

After staying in a pack up to 30km, Misoi decided to break as Richard Rop and Daniel Yator gave a futile chase in a race that covered 33km on the new Nairobi Expressway.

Misoi was home and dry on the sunny morning as Rop settled second in 2:09:17 with Yator coming in third in 2:10:15. They pocketed Sh4.02m and Sh2.875m respectively.

The 39-year-old Barsosio, the 2019 Hangzhou Marathon champion, clocked 2:24:45 to win and also pocket Sh6.9m, beating Shyline Jepkorir and 2011 World marathon bronze medallist Sharon Cherop.

Jepkorir clocked 2:29:04 with Cherop, the 2012 Boston Marathon champion, romping home in 2:29:37.

Uhuru Classic Nairobi City Marathon is now the richest marathon in Africa with a prize fund of Sh44.8m.

President Uhuru Kenyatta said the race is to celebrate the city's infrastructure as well as Kenya as a sporting nation.

"We are proud of who we are and we have to showcase what we have," said the President, adding that as a country we should celebrate what we have achieved rather than focus on the mistakes we make.

Ng'etich, Kamais won Uhuru Classic Half Marathon titles

Madrid Half Marathon champion Vincent Ng'etich and Irene Kamais on Sunday won the men and women’s half marathon races at the inaugural Uhuru Classic Nairobi City Marathon.

Irene Kamais wins the women's 21km race during Uhuru Classic Nairobi City Marathon at Nyayo National Stadium in Nairobi on May 8, 2022.

Ng'etich, who also claimed the men's half marathon on debut during the Standard Chartered Nairobi Marathon last year, broke away from the pack with three kilometres to go to win in 1 hour and 44 seconds.

Kenya Prisons Service 10,000m champion Charles Mneria edged out Geoffrey Kipyegon in a photo-finish to settle second with both athletes returning times of 1:00:48.

“The morning weather was just fine and it was a good experience to run on the Nairobi Expressway,” said Ng'etich, who had the previous weekend finished fourth at Malaga Half Marathon.

“We stayed in the pack for a long time and I decided to push at the 17km mark. I looked stronger than my rivals, who failed to respond,” said Ng'etich, the 2018 Africa Cross Country sixth place finisher.

Kamais, who finished third at the Berlin Half Marathon in March, led from start to finish, sweeping the Nairobi Expressway in 1:09:15.

Vincent Ng'etich wins the men's 21km race during Uhuru Classic Nairobi City Marathon at Nyayo National Stadium in Nairobi on May 8, 2022.

Sophy Jepchirchir finished second 1:10:00 as the 2013 World Cross Country champion Emily Chebet came in third in 1:10:21.

“The race was fine and the good weather made things easy for me. I thought it would be challenging but the Expressway was flat. It was a fast course,” said Kamais.

Source:

Daily Nation