Discovery Kenya Half Marathon: Eldoret 31 January 2009
Athletes from all over Kenya were seeking to make their mark at the 17th Discovery Kenya Half Marathon held in Eldoret, the running capital of Kenya. Organised by Dr Gabriela Rosa, coach and mentor to some of the world’s best athletes with Nike being the official sponsors, the race always attracts a competitive field and invariably marks out future stars.
In February 2002, for example, Robert Kipkoech Cheruiyot won the Discovery Kenya Half-Marathon. In that same year he went on to win his first marathon (Milan City Marathon in 2:08.59) and subsequently 4 Boston Marathons, the first Kenyan man to achieve such a feat.
RAB would like to thank Meshack Sang, a friend of Malcolm Anderson’s since his first days in Kenya back in 2001, for accommodating Daniel while he was staying in Eldoret. Meshack himself is a middle distance athlete having competed in races in Europe and America.
The Kericho District Championships
A little further away from the events in Eldoret another of our outreach athletes, Jackson Chepkwony was competing in the 12km cross country District Championships at the Kericho Teachers Training College grounds. Jackson came through the finish line in 39 minutes.
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Running Across Borders’ outreach athlete Daniel Kones was motivated and ready to compete. He had travelled from his home town of Kericho to Eldoret specifically for the race. Unfortunately for the athletes a false start saw them race for about three kilometres before they were turned back and the race started afresh. Despite this Daniel finished the race with a time of 1:05 minutes. Gilbert Chepkwony won the race in 1:2.06, Mathew Koech second (1:02.37) and Gilbert Kirwa third (1:2.45)
Photo: Jared Nyataya, The Daily Nation
