Doreen Kibet emerged victorious in the women’s category of the Iten 15 km road race after clocking 51 minutes and 06.9 seconds during the competition held today in Iten Town, Elgeyo Marakwet County.
Kibet outpaced a strong field of athletes to claim the top prize of Sh250,000 in the highly competitive race that attracted over 1,200 participants from different parts of the country.
Judy Jepngetich finished second after posting a time of 52 minutes and 00.3 seconds to earn Sh150,000, while Naomi Chemweno sealed the top three positions with a time of 52 minutes and 10.2 seconds and received Sh100,000.
Speaking after the race, Kibet expressed delight with her performance, saying the event provided an important opportunity for athletes to gauge their preparedness ahead of upcoming international competitions.
“I am happy with the victory because the competition was very tough. Races like this help us assess our fitness levels and prepare for bigger championships ahead,” she said.
In the men’s category, Amos Kipruto demonstrated his dominance by winning the race after clocking 44 minutes and 33 seconds to take home Sh250,000.
Denis Kipkurui came in second with a time of 44 minutes and 47.02 seconds and earned Sh150,000, while Kiprono Kipkemoi secured third place after finishing in 45 minutes and 05.0 seconds to receive Sh100,000.
Kipruto lauded the organisers for staging a well-coordinated event, noting that road races continue to play a critical role in nurturing athletics talent in the country.
“These competitions are important because they expose upcoming athletes to high level competition and motivate them to improve their performance,” he said.
Participants noted that the Iten Road Race has become a key platform for athletes seeking to test their endurance and sharpen their skills ahead of major global events.
Event organisers led by Eric Mwithi underscored the significance of investing in athletics competitions to sustain Kenya’s dominance in long-distance running.
Mwithi said Iten, widely known as the “Home of Champions,” continues to produce world-class athletes due to its strong athletics culture and conducive training environment.
“We are committed to organizing more competitions to identify, nurture and develop talent among young athletes. Iten remains a strategic hub for athletics development in Kenya,” he said.
The race attracted elite and upcoming athletes, with organisers expressing optimism that the event will continue growing into a major athletics competition on the local and international calendar.
By Rennish Okong’o
