Why elite athletes shunned Sunday’s Afrika Mashariki marathon

KAMPALA.

The inaugural Airtel Afrika Mashariki Half Marathon that took place on Sunday might have been a success, but many will still be disappointed after most of the ambassadors that had been expected to grace the event did not turn up.

World and Olympic champion Stephen Kiprotich and Kenyan counterparts Ezekiel Kemboi, Wilson Kipsang and Edna Kiplagat didn’t turn up at Kololo Independence Grounds as was promised prior to the event.

Kipsang and Kemboi featured in international races in England and USA respectively the same weekend but Mashariki’s event organiser Ronex Kisembo, admitted he had no explanation for Kiprotich’s absence while Kiplagat fell sick and was represented by her husband, Gilbert Koech. “Honestly, the only ambassador whose absence I can’t explain is Stephen (Kiprotich,” Kisembo told Daily Monitor yesterday.

“I met his family on Saturday morning and he said he would join us later since he was in Kapchorwa. I haven’t contacted him since,” he added. We failed to raise Kiprotich on his known phone numbers for a comment.

“Edna fell sick and was advised by her doctor not to travel since she also has a race in New York this weekend,” Kisembo shared. In the build-up to the event, the New Vision also reported that two-time World Championships marathon gold medallist, Abel Kirui, was among the Kenyans that had registered for the event.

Kirui did not show up and Kisembo argued the runners could have been swayed by more lucrative deals overseas.

“First of all these ambassadors appreciate this (Mashariki) concept because we are trying to interest the youth in regional training and conservation of River Nile and Lake Victoria.
“However, we have no control over some things.

It is criminal to dupe people but I want to confirm that these things were organized on schedule and we had the greenlight to advertise these athletes,” Kisembo said. “I met Kipsang in Eldoret on Thursday evening and he told me he had to run in a 10km race (in Manchester) where he was being paid $25,000 (Shs75m). We agreed that he leaves for London immediately.

“For Kemboi, he too had to participate in the Diamond League where he actually won. But we communicated on whatsapp and some of these things you really can’t follow up. He said, he would be in Nairobi on Sunday and connect to Jinja on Monday morning for the tree planting exercise, however, he didn’t,” Kisembo said.

Future hope
“Fortunately, Kipsiro and Golola were around and we also managed to commission Henry Kiprono Kirwa and Muhammad Zakia Mrisho as ambassadors for people with disabilities and Tanzania respectively.

“The run is annual and on May 29 next year, we shall do our best to have these ambassadors here or during the rotational runs in any of the other countries,” Kisembo promised.

It remains to be seen whether marathon enthusiasts in the country will be compelled to take part with the same gusto after seeing none of the global superstars.