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By:
HARRISON MAINA | |||||||||
| Posted:
Apr,25-2016 12:30:07
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BOSTON--As Kenyan male runners hit the trail from Hopkinton to Copley square during tomorrow'' 120th Boston Marathon in a bid to reclaim title that has eluded them for 3 years in a row, hundreds of fans from the Kenyan community as well as 7 Kenyan MPs from Nairobi are set to join others at the finish line to cheer their them on.
7 Kenyan Members of Parliament from the Bunge Sports Club are also expected to join fans at the finish line in Boston to cheer their runners. According to the Kenyan Embassy in Washington D.C, the MPs expected to attend the Marathon include Robert Mbui- MP Kathiani, Aisha Jumwa- MP Killifi County, John Waiganjo- MP Oljororok, Eusla Ngeny- MP Uasin Gishu County, Neto Agostinho- MP Ndhiwa, as well as Sylverster Ocholla- the Bunge Sports club Coach, and Stephen Mutungi, the Clerk. Kenyans fans will also be meeting at the usual Vlora restaurant (now renamed to Yamato II Restaurant) on Boylston Street for lunch at 1 pm after the elite runners cross the line as they await the awards ceremony that take place at 5pm at the Fairmont Copley Hotel. Later in the evening, an after-marathon celebration is planned to take place at the Monroe Lounge, located at 450 Massachusetts Avenue in Cambridge, MA at 8pm. The last time Kenya men won a marathon title was in 2012, when Wesley Korir, now a Member of Parliament in Kenya and still a marathon runner, withstood severe pressure from dangerous Ethiopians to lift the trophy. The honorable MP is back in Boston in a bid to secure a much needed win after he finished 5th in 2015. To the dismay of Kenyan fans, Ethiopia's Lelisa Desisa beat the field to win the title in 2013, and rubbed salt to the injury by coming back to scoop the same title last year (2015).
USA's Meb Keflezighi won in 2014, making it a 3 year drought for Kenyan men. Since then, it has been the Kenyan women who have come to the rescue of the battered Kenyan fans egos by winning in 2015, 2014 and 2013 straight. However, during tomorrow's race, the Kenyans are expected to give Ethiopians a run for their money and bring the trophy back home, something the local fans have been thirsting for. Women's defending champion, Caroline Rotich will be looking to extend her winning touch to two years in a row when she goes against arch rival, Mare Dibaba from Ethiopia whom she beat with 4 seconds in the 2015 race. "We hope all our runners will do well tomorrow. This is a marathon and anything can happen. But we hope for the best," said Dr. Isaiah Okwiya, Rotich's coach who is based in Maryland during an interview with Ajabu Africa at the Fairmont Copley Hotel. Careful not to underestimate Kenyan men's capability of retaking the title, Ethiopia's male runners' coach, Dereje Tefera predicted the winner will likely be a tossup between Kenya and Ethiopia. "It's very hard to tell. This thing is going to be either Kenyans or Ethiopians taking it. The weather looks great tomorrow so we are hoping to win." Interestingly, a Ugandan marathon runner has promised o give the legendary Kenyans and ethuiopians a run for their money when the race kicks off tomorrow. "I intend to win this race. We will see what happens," Harbert Okuti told Ajabu Africa News.
Stephen Sambu of Kenya finished third at the end of the 2016 BAA's 5 K race that took place yesterday while Caroline Chepkoech, also of Kenya came in at number three as well. Some Kenyan runners are set to join Kenyan fans at the Monroe Lounge located at 450 Massachusetts Avenue in Cambridge for an evening celebration. According to organizers, tickets to the event are going for $10 when purchased on line and $20 at the door. An online sales deadline has been extended to tomorrow, Monday April 18 at 7pm for Kenyan fans interested in celebrating Kenya's legendary performance at Boston and other marathons across major cities of the world. To reserve your ticket on Eventbrite.com,click here >>>>
Venue:Monroe Lounge 450 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA (MBTA Red Line Train towards Alewife, get off at Central Square) | |||||||||
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Source:
AJABU AFRICA NEWS
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