Barsosio will not defend her Nairobi City Marathon crown

Agnes Barsosio has ruled out defending her Nairobi City Marathon title after pulling her hamstring in training, it has been revealed.

Barsosio who trains at Marura in Eldoret, Uasin Gishu County, stormed to victory during the inaugural edition in 2022, finishing in 2:24.25 to beat then race favourite Shyline Jepkorir who clocked 2:29.04 to finish in second place as Sharon Cherop came in third in 2:29.37.

However, the race has received a boost as 2015 world junior cross country champion Pauline Chemning Korikwiang confirmed her participation after failing to secure a visa for a race in France.

The 2022 Stockholm marathon silver medallist, who trains at the 2 Running Club in Kapsabet, Nandi County, is looking forward to competing against Shyline Jepkorir who just got selected to represent Kenya in the forthcoming World Championships in Budapest, Hungary in August.

Despite the race downsizing the winners’ cash prize from Sh6 million (won in the first edition in 2022) to Sh3.5 million, star athletes have been attracted to it with some looking forward to using it as preparations for other major races while some are simply looking to winning the prize money.

Some of the star athletes that have registered for the women’s full marathon event slated for Sunday, July 2, are the 21-year-old Mercy Chebet, Lilian Chebii, Sheila Chepkech, Monia Gitau, Grace Kinyua, Terry Maina among others.