Enos, Jepkosgei triumph at inaugural Lake Ol’Bolossat Half Marathon
By Lucky Oluoch, November 27, 2023Enos Kales from Kapenguria and Winnie Jepkosgei from Elgeyo Marakwet emerged victorious at the first-ever Lake Ol’Bolossat Half Marathon held in Nyandarua County yesterday.
Kales dominated the men’s race, clocking 1:06:15, while Jepkosgei secured the top spot in the women’s category with a time of 1:14:39.
Kales conquered the challenging conditions, expressing his elation at becoming the inaugural champion. “I have been training for this race, and today I am thrilled to etch my name as the first winner of the Ol’Bolossat Half Marathon,” said Kales.
He also expressed hope for the event’s expansion into a full marathon, attracting more professional athletes in the future.
Jepkosgei, triumphant in the women’s race, commended the favorable weather conditions, citing the chilly climate as beneficial for her performance. “This is my first time competing here, and the chilly weather made the running more comfortable,” said Jepkosgei, acknowledging the event organizers and sponsors, including Safaricom, for supporting sports tourism in the region.
Both Kales and Jepkosgei were awarded a cash prize of Sh200,000 for their outstanding achievements. The runners-up in the 21km categories received Sh150,000 and Sh100,000, respectively.
The marathon also featured a 10km race, where Samuel Njihia and Faith Chepkoech claimed victory and received a cash prize of Sh100,000 each. Ernest Kiprotich, Naomi Chepng’eno, Kipyegon Nehemiah, and Virginia Nyambura secured subsequent positions, earning varying cash rewards.
Zacharia Mwangi and Maria Andoti emerged triumphant in the 5km race. All winners across categories were awarded Neon Ultra phones by the event sponsors, Safaricom, with additional phones presented to the second-place finishers in the 21km and 10km races.
The Lake Ol’Bolossat Half Marathon attracted over 1,000 participants, including elite athletes and various race categories aimed at raising funds for the conservation and restoration of the region’s sole lake within the Mt Kenya area.
In a parallel event, the Ghetto Run – Nairobi edition, supported by Safaricom, crowned Nichola Chelule and Diana Chepkorir as the victors in the 15km race. Chelule clocked 48:50, while Chepkorir finished in 54:28. Kariuki Karanja and Sheila Ambaku emerged victorious in the 5km race.
Safaricom’s sponsorship of Sh1.6 million facilitated both events, with the Ol’Bolossat Half Marathon receiving additional in-kind support for the successful execution of the event and Ghetto Run securing financial backing for its Nairobi edition.