Nandi mountain run targets world series
Athletics Kenya (AK) Nandi Bargetuny Mountain Run is on the verge of making history as the first African competition to be upgraded and included in the prestigious World Mountain Running Series (WMRS), People Sport has exclusively established.
AK Nandi County and Central Rift executive Peter Sang disclosed plans to elevate the AK Nandi Bargetuny Mountain Run to world status. The announcement followed an inspection tour of the event’s site and route in Tinderet Constituency by a local team from AK Tinderet, accompanied by Chemelil Sugar Company managers Margaret Ngetich Magare and Victor Kibet Chirchir, whose company will field athletes in the event scheduled for this Saturday.
The Local Organising Committee (LOC), including AK Tinderet Mountain Run Chairman Joel Kemei and AK Nandi County and Central Rift Executive Peter Sang, assessed the route, which begins at the Tinderet Milk Cooler (1,400m above sea level) and concludes at Kimatkei (2,400m above sea level).
Also present were Erick Bargetuny, Peter Santo, Philip Mutai and Nandi County sports director Daniel Rutto.
Earlier, Magical Kenya Heritage Trail sponsor Kenya Tourism Board (KTB), which has an MoU with AK, visited and mapped the event site.
“During the 4th edition of the AK Nandi Bargetuny Mountain Run, a technical committee from the World Mountain Running Series will inspect the competition site at Lion Hills Farm, owned by the late prominent farmer Ezekiel Bargetuny. This assessment is part of the plans to upgrade the race to world status,” said Sang.
Sang expressed optimism that the WMRS technical committee’s report would lead to the race’s elevation, making Kenya the first African country to host an event in the World Mountain Running Series, currently held only in Europe, South America and Asia.