Nairobi News

The inaugural Mwale Medical and Technology City (MMTC) marathon attracted huge participation from athletes and spectators.

More than 50 medals and cash prizes were won in five race categories in the event at MMTC in Butere Sub-County, Kakamega County.

“The event attracted global elite athletes in the categories of 42 km, 21 km, 10km, 5km and 1600 meters,” MMTC said in a statement.

Irene Cherop and Eliud Mayo won the women’s and men’s 42km races respectively. Maiyo clocked 2:24.20 while Cherop finished in a time of 2:46.23 under hot conditions.

Viola Chemos and Rael Kiara wrapped up the podium places in the women’s race, while Dennis Yator (2:24.29) and Moses Kigen (2:24.21) finished second and third in the men’s race.

“I have never run on a hard course like this but I endured the challenge and came out victorious,” said Cherop who was only running her second marathon. All the top 10 finishers in both categories received cash prizes.

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The women’s 21km race was won by Viola Jepng’eno (1:12.54), followed by Vivian Cherutich (1:12.57) and Christine Njoki (1:13.31) in second and third place.

Josephat Kimutai emerged victorious in the men’s 21km race in a time of 1:02.58, followed by Ezra Tanui (1:03.29) and Edward Koonyo (1:03.39).

Tegla Lokrare (37:07.5) won the women’s and men’s 10km race, with Fridah Chebet (40.33.2) and Esther Sichei (43.23.6) finishing second and third respectively.

In the men’s 10km race, Brian Kibor clocked 31:10.9 for first place ahead of Zacharia Krop (31.20.3) and Dominic Kurgat (31:32.2).

The races traversed through MMTC’s five districts, including the airport district, which challenged the athletes with its many hills. The races also took the competitors to Industrial district, the Grid district and the Golf district.

The main commercial district is the Plaza district which has Hamptons Hospital, innovation park, shopping, dining and Plaza residences. All races, except the 1600m, started and ended at the Plaza district. The 1600m race started in the Grid district and ended at the Plaza district.

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The marathon, which was the first to be held in the 14 County Lake region economic bloc (LREB) with 16 million Kenyans, raised funds to support low-income families to afford healthcare premiums of Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF)/NHIF.

The marathon, which will now be an annual event, aims to be the first-label marathon in the history of Kenya.

The marathon came after MMTC unveiled the final renderings of a world-class multiplex sports arena in its Airport District. The new multi-billion shillings sports arena will cement MMTC as a global leading talent and entertainment centre. It will also support sports medicine and tourism as part of the City’s medical tourism program.

“The multiplex arena will add to our 36-hole Hamptons golf course which is located in the Golf District of MMTC. The multiplex sports arena will host all sports including soccer, rugby, basketball, Tennis, hockey, volleyball, American football and swimming,” MMTC said.

The arena will also host concerts, forums and other revenue generators for maximum utilization of the facility. A talent innovation school will train, nurture and educate thousands of youth in sports, and enable them to compete internationally.

MMTC is a community-owned sustainable metropolis centered around the Hamptons Hospital. Located in Butere Sub County, Kakamega County in Kenya, it is the brainchild of the Kenyan tycoon Julius Mwale.