Over 1,000 Athletes Set for Betika Uasin Gishu Half Marathon in Eldoret as Kiprop Eyes Title Defence
He narrowly edged out Peter Tuitoek who clocked 1:00:58, while Titus Kiprotich finished third in 1:01:05 in a thrilling finish.
Photo: Courtesy.
By Robert Mutasi
More than 1,000 athletes are expected to line up in Eldoret on Sunday for the fourth edition of the Betika Uasin Gishu Half Marathon, as defending champion Robert Kiprop returns to defend his men’s crown in Kenya’s City of Champions.
Kiprop, who is also the reigning BingwaFest National Finals 10,000m champion, will be chasing a second straight title after winning last year’s race in a time of 1:00:56. He narrowly edged out Peter Tuitoek who clocked 1:00:58, while Titus Kiprotich finished third in 1:01:05 in a thrilling finish.
The 2019 African Games 5,000m champion heads into this year’s race in fine form, having clocked a personal best of 59:51 at the Berlin Half Marathon in March. The sub-60 performance has placed him among the top contenders for Sunday’s showdown, with fans expecting another fast race on the streets of Eldoret.
In the women’s category, a new champion is guaranteed after defending winner Gladys Chepkurui opted out of this year’s edition. Chepkurui claimed last year’s title in 1:08:56, ahead of Vivian Cherotich who finished second in 1:10:02 and Christine Ndambi who was third in 1:10:27.
Betika Head of Brand Eric Mwiti said the company is delighted to return to Kenya’s athletics heartland for the annual event that has become a key fixture on the local calendar.
“We are delighted to return to Eldoret for the fourth edition of the Betika Uasin Gishu Half Marathon. There is no better place to stage a race of this calibre than Kenya’s home of champions, where running is deeply rooted in the region’s identity and heritage. Each year, the event continues to grow, attracting stronger fields and increased participation, underscoring its significance on the local athletics calendar. We look forward to another highly competitive day and wish all athletes the very best as they compete for top honours,” Mwiti said.
The event, which will be staged in Eldoret town, will feature both men’s and women’s 21-kilometre races, as well as a Masters category for athletes aged 55 years and above, giving veteran runners a chance to showcase their endurance.
Organizers have lined up attractive prize money to reward top performers. Winners in both the men’s and women’s races will each take home KES 300,000. The second-place finishers will earn KES 200,000, while third place will receive KES 100,000.
Athletes finishing fourth, fifth and sixth will pocket KES 50,000, KES 40,000 and KES 30,000 respectively, while those placed seventh to tenth will each get KES 20,000.
Athletes are set to collect their race bibs on Saturday at Central Primary School grounds ahead of Sunday’s race. Organizers have urged all registered participants to turn up early for bib collection and to observe race guidelines.
With Eldoret known for producing world-beating athletes, Sunday’s race is expected to be highly competitive, with upcoming talents looking to use the platform to announce themselves on the big stage.
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