Amos Abuga

The inaugural Nyamira Great Run set to be held on October 31 was officially launched yesterday at the county headquarters by area Governor Amos Nyaribo.

The 21km race will start at Chepilat on the Nyamira/Bomet counties border and finish at Ikonge Primary School grounds.

The race is aimed at rekindling the spirit of athletics in the region, said Governor Nyaribo during the launch.

Winners of the half marathon will bag Sh250,000, with first and second runners-up going home with Sh175, 000 Sh150,000 respectively. 

Fourth placed athletes will receive Sh125,000 with fifth placed finishers earning Sh100,000.

To motivate local runners, Nyaribo said the first local athlete to cross the finishing line will get Sh100,000 while second one will receive Sh75,000 with the third one receiving Sh50,000.

The race will be preceded by 10km and cross country races to be held in all the sub-counties. 

“We wanted to have the events start at the grassroots that is why we are having the sub-county events which will culminate in the main event.

This is one of the biggest athletics events in Nyanza and Western regions,” said Nyaribo.

Nyaribo was accompanied during the launch by his deputy James Gesami, former Olympic gold medalists Charles Asati and Hezekiah Nyamao. Thomas Osano led a host of former athletes from the county.

World under-18 race walking bronze medalist Dominic Ndigiti represented current and upcoming athletes at the event. 

Nyamira County sports advisor and AK Nyanza South chairman Peter Angwenyi graced the launch.