Jeremiah Njenga and Ruth Wakabu won the 3rd Edition of the Mwea half marathon, staged Saturday inside the Mwea national game reserve in Mbeere south, Embu county.
Njenga, running on home turf, clinched his maiden competitive title in the men’s 21km race, clocking 1:05:24.
He edged out veteran John Mwangangi of Machakos, who settled for second position in a time of 1:25:26, while Alexander Njae of Embu, finished third in 1:05:35.
Overjoyed with his breakthrough, Njenga said the win marked the beginning of determination for even bigger achievement in future.
“This is my first competitive victory, and it gives me confidence to aim higher. My goal is to break into national and international races,” he said.
In the women’s race, Nyahururu’s, Wakabu stamped dominance after storming to victory in 1:13:31.
She was closely followed by Lydia Naliaka from Embu in 1:14:44, while Regina Wambui secured third position in 1:15:41.
According to the participants, the course was tough, with rough terrain and sweltering heat that overstretched their endurance to the limits with a few drop outs.
The 10 km races were equally thrilling with Meru’s Esitel Mike crossing the finish line in a time of 30:46, ahead of Marsabit’s Cyrus Morogo in 31:04.
In the women’s category, Winfred Mbithi clocked 35:53 to win the race followed by Mary Munanu in 36:45.
The event organizer and Makima Ward Member of the County Assembly (MCA), Philip Nzangi, hailed the marathon’s impact, saying that since its inception in 2023, more than 150 vulnerable students have benefited scholarships from funds raised through the marathon.
He added that the marathon has also been instrumental in nurturing upcoming talents, especially in schools.
by Samuel Waititu
