Athletes competing in the 4th edition of Ziwa Farmers’ 10km Road Race will pocket over a million shillings in prize money.
The only race ran outside town, was launched in Eldoret today and will be held in Ziwa Village of Uasin Gishu County on 1st December 2018 in Ziwa. Having eight categories, top athletes will be yearning to collect the money ahead of their international marathons.
While launching the race, race director and founder Lawrence Tanui said the road race is meant for the farmers, which is a community based initiative with the purpose of bringing local farmers together with the sole idea of solving agricultural industry in the country.
“The reasons why we decided to use athletics to pass the message is because of its high level of discipline. Discipline if used in farming, there shall be good results just like in athletes as our top athletes have done across the world,” said Tanui.
Last year, former world cross country champion Agnes Jebet won the race and Tanui hopes she will be defending her title come the material day.
“We are bringing these athletes and farmers together to share several ideas and make sure both succeed on farm and running too,” added Cherono.
Double Amsterdam marathon champion Lawrence Cheorno and former Rotterdam Half marathon champion Sammy Kitwara were also in attendance to motivate young athletes to take part in local races.
Both athletes promised to sponsor some runners who might not get registration money.
“I would like to sponsor some runners for the event to see it succeed. If we succeed at home, then we will do well out there,” said Cherono.
Ziwa marathon is run in the village of Soy Sub-county, Uasin Gishu County consists of 10km as the event 5km, 5km for over 50 years. Winning in 10k will pocket kshs 100,000, second placed 50,000, third 30,000 trickling down to 5th finisher for both men and women. In 5km, winners will earn 30,000, 15,000 and 10,000 for both gender.
There will be 4km boys and girls between 10-14 years will earn kshs 15,000, 10,000 and 7000 while 3km for boys and girls between 7-9 years will pocket ksh 5,000, 4,000 and 3,000 and 4x400m relays for 40-50 years, 4x400m for over 50 years with winning team receiving modern farm inputs for the season.