Over 3000 to run in Mashariki marathon
Kenya’s female long distance superstar Edna Kiplagat will be going for a third World Championship crown in Sunday's marathon in London. | PHOTO | FILE |
What you need to know:
Athletics. The runners will have a chance to rub shoulders with Mashariki Ambassadors in local kickboxing icon Moses Golola and other revered long distance athletes in Stephen Kiprotich, Moses Kipsiro, Kenyans Wilson Kipsang, Edna Kiplagat, Ezekiel Kemboi, Mary Keitany and Tanzania’s Muhammed Mrisho at the meet.
KAMPALA. Over 3000 runners are expected to participate in today’s Airtel Africa Masharika Fest Half Marathon set to start and finish at Kololo Independence Grounds.
The inaugural marathon, where participants will compete in the 21km (men only) and 10km, will be held under the theme; “Healthy citizens for regional integration and support to Lake Victoria Environmental Conservation”.
“Afrika Mashariki is a platform for the youth that helps them embrace regional integration through Art, Sports and Civil Society advocacy,” event organizer Ronex Kisembo told Sunday Monitor.
“So all proceeds from the run will go to funding different Mashariki events, future marathons all over the region and projects like the East African magazine which we will launch in Kigali in July. Tomorrow we have to plant trees in Jinja and create awareness about River Nile and Lake Victoria, all those logistics will be catered for using those proceeds,” Kisembo added.
The runners will have a chance to rub shoulders with Mashariki Ambassadors in local kickboxing icon Moses Golola and other revered long distance athletes in Olympic and World marathon champion Stephen Kiprotich and Commonwealth gold medallist Moses Kipsiro, Kenyans Wilson Kipsang, Edna Kiplagat, Ezekiel Kemboi, Mary Keitany and Tanzania’s Muhammed Mrisho at the meet.
Speaker of the East African Legislative Assembly Rt. Hon. Daniel F. Kidega is expected to grace the marathon.
Activities to climax the event will include an anti-doping clinic and a display of paintings by the youth under the theme “The East Africa I would like to live in.”
