Monday, June 1, 2009
Nile Half Marathon Kampala/Uganda
Kampala — IN a rare show of speed and stamina, Kenya's David Tarus yesterday won his second half marathon in a week. Tarus proved too good for Ugandan runners leading from the second kilometer to the finish at the first Hared Source of the Nile marathon.
"I could have even been faster if it wasn't humid," said Tarus, who just a week ago won the Soto Koto half marathon on home soil.
His strategy of breaking away early from the front pack and maintaining a 300m lead paid off. "Rather than battle it off in a pack, I preferred to set pace at the front," he said.
Tarus, who hails from Eldoret like other Kenyan greats including Moses Tanui, Moses Kiptanui and Kipchoge Keino, walked away with a sh1m winners prize.
Adero Nyakisi gave Uganda reason to smile when she easily strode to victory in the women's 21km event. It was the Luzira prison warder's personal best time in Uganda. Her national record registered in France in 2008 is two seconds faster.
Organisers promised to make the event annual. Next year's edition will have a full marathon.