The stage is set for the Seventh Safaricom Kebirigo 10km Road Race to be run in Nyamira District on Friday with 2006 Amsterdam Marathon champion, Solomon Bushendich, among the star attractions.Bushendich, a regular campaigner in the race, arrived in Kebirigo last night along with Europe-based Gladys Otero who will feature in the women’s race.
“I’m using the Kebirigo race to prepare for the Dublin Marathon later this month,” Bushendich said.
He was third in the recent Ndakaini Half Marathon.
The Kebirigo race is the third and final one in the Gusii Golden Series sponsored by the mobile telephone service provider after races in Kisii and Manga districts over the past two months.
Ken Ongeri, vice-chairman of Nyamira’s Athletics Kenya branch, and public relations officer Mustapha Ondari were at the grounds yesterday making final arrangements.
Members of Parliament James Gesami (West Mugirango) and Wilfred Ombui (North Mugirango) will be the chief guests at the meeting alongside the dictrict commissioners of Nyamira and Nyamira North.
“Everything is all set for the race and the course is in good shape, so we should expect good times,” Ongeri said on Thursday.
Sub-branch chairman Gilbert Omariba said his team of officials expects a huge turnout from schools this year as athletes wind down their road programmes and prepare for the cross-country season ahead.
Winners of the men’s and women’s races will get Sh50,000, with the prizes trickling down to the 10th-placed finisher in one of Kenya’s most consistent road races.
“Athletes are requested to travel direct to the registration centre at Ting’a market,” race director Robert Kiriago said and added that registration fees is Sh50 for individual runners.
Top women athletes are expected from the neighbouring Kericho. They include Hilda Chepkwemoi, who was eighth at this year’s World Cross Country Championships in Amman, Jordan, and Judith Chepkoech, second in Manga last month.
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