Victor Kipkorir (pictured) and Viola Kosgei triumphed in the 5th edition of the Chebara Dam Conservation 8km road race held in Elgeyo Marakwet County on Saturday.

The race, sponsored by Eldoret Water and Sanitation Company (ELDOWAS), which supplies water to Eldoret city in Uasin Gishu County, awarded the winners Sh50,000 each.

Fresh off his victory at the Hollywood 10km road race in South Africa, Kipkorir claimed first place in the men’s race with a time of 24:06, ahead of Brian Limo, who clocked 24:24 and Laban Kiptoo, who finished third with 24:25.

Competing on a hilly course, Kipkorir, who was challenged by Kiptoo and Limo, managed to break away from the leading pack with just a kilometer remaining.

Iten-based runner Kipkorir, who trains under Coach Erick Kogo, expressed that while he wasn’t aiming for victory, he was pleased with the win.

“The course was somewhat challenging, especially with the hills, but since I train here, it gave me an advantage, allowing me to clinch the title,” he stated.

Looking ahead to next year’s World Championships in Tokyo, Japan, Kipkorir added, “I’ll try my best to make the team.”

Kosgei, who finished 7th at the Bomet Athletics Kenya Cross Country series, found the hilly course challenging as she sought a better position.

Despite the difficulty, her persistence paid off.

“This course was tough, but I’m hopeful I’ll perform well because I want to get a good time, relax, and then focus on my next journey,” she remarked.

Kosgei also has her sights set on earning a spot on Team Kenya for next year’s World Championships. “I aim to make the team for the 5,000m in Tokyo,” she added.

ELDOWAS general manager for Commercial Services, Fredrick Kosgei, stated that the Chebara race serves as an annual platform to engage the local community on the importance of conserving water and natural resources, not just in Elgeyo Marakwet, but nationwide.

“We organise this race every year to inform the locals of Chebara Dam, which supplies water to Eldoret, about the importance of protecting our environment to ensure clean water for Eldoret and other areas,” noted Kosgei.

On the topic of climate change, Kosgei emphasized its urgency.

“Climate change is a monster, and if we don’t involve everyone in the conservation efforts, we may lose the battle,” he warned.

“We must make conservation a serious call, so that future generations can enjoy a green and thriving environment. Through this event, we’ve achieved our target, and we expect the water levels in the dam to rise.”