Elite runners for Machakos Road Races

 

PHOTO | FILE John Mwangangi competes at a past event.  NATION MEDIA GROUP

In Summary

• Event coordinator Boniface Mutie confirmed on Monday that Mwangangi and Ivuti are among over 100 elite runners from different training camps coming for the 21km race
• This year’s event is sponsored by Peter Mulei Supermarkets, Airtel, Musyi Fm, Hotpoint Appliances, Alpha Millers and Dasani Water

By Ayumba Ayodi

The 2012 World Half Marathon bronze medallist, John Mwangangi, and 2007 Chicago Marathon champion, Patrick Ivuti, are among the star attractions at this year’s Peter Mulei Machakos Road Races set for Saturday in Machakos.

Mwangangi, who is also the 2011 Africa Cross Country senior men gold medallist, and Ivuti, the winner of the 2008 and 2009 Honolulu Marathon, will square it out in the 21-km (Half Marathon) race.

Event coordinator Boniface Mutie confirmed on Monday that Mwangangi and Ivuti, who are some of the finest runners the region has produced, are among over 100 elite runners from different training camps coming for the 21km race that will have men’s and women’s categories.

MAKE UP FOR LOSS

Also in the race where Mwangangi lost to Jackson Limo last year is Nicholas Kamacha, who finished fourth during the 2011 Amsterdam Marathon in 2:06:34.

Mutie said close 2000 participants had registered for the road races that will also feature 10km and 3km family fun races respectively. “There will also be the 10km corporate challenge and teams are urged to continue registering,” said Mutie.

This year’s event is sponsored by Peter Mulei Supermarkets, Airtel, Musyi Fm, Hotpoint Appliances, Alpha Millers and Dasani Water.

Last year’s winner in the women’s Half Marathon was Agnes Katunge, who went on to win the 2012 Naghpur Half Marathon.

In attendance will be Patrick Makau, who lost his Berlin Marathon record of 2:03:38 to Wilson Kipsang on Sunday, three-time Boston Marathon champion Cosmas Ndeti, and five-time World Cross Country champion John Ngugi.