Amos Kiprotich and Evalyne Chirchir, residents from Keringet in Nakuru County took the lead in men and women 21 kilometer races respectively, during the second edition of Lake Ol Olbolosat Half Marathon held in Nyandarua County on Sunday.
Kiprotich, in a very competitive half marathon running, challenged teammate Vincent Kimutai Towett with just 500m to go to the finishing line at Lake Olbolosat, the only highland lake in the country.
Towett who trains at the Run2Gether camp in Longonot, Naivasha, believed he would win the race, only to lose in the last one kilometre.
Kiprotich stepped up his speed to victory in one hour three minutes and seven seconds (63:07) and won the Sh250,000 top prize, trailed behind by nine athletes, while Towett, Hamburg half marathon winner, finished second in 63:16, third was Shadrack Kipng’etich in 63:17.
“I had believed I was winning the race but things changed with only 300 metres to go. But I am thankful for the second position,” Towett said.
Chirchir, the first runners up in Plague marathon last month, said she was surprised to win at 1:12:28 in Nyandarua, while trailed behind by Jackline Chepngeno at 1:13.20.
“Having ran a marathon last month, I came here for practice and did not expect to win but it was a surprise to emerge the winner,” noted Chirchir.
According to the winners, the Nyandarua altitude which is similar to Keringet and Longonot favoured them greatly.
The half marathon had also shorter races of 10km and 5km for elite and wheelchair athletes where the winners also walked home with cash prizes.
The race was flagged off by Governor Moses Kiarie Badilisha at Equator “Zero Latitude” on the Nyahururu-Ol Kalou highway and branched off to the Lake at Kasuku trading centre.
By Kimani Tirus
