Organizers of the Chemususu Conservancy half marathon are planning to build a murrum road at Chemususu Primary school to support budding athletes in the region.
Led by race director Mathew Birir, they said that they want to build murrum track at the Chemususu Primary school for athletes training.
“Construction of murrum track is part of giving back to the society. We have been using the school for a long time and the only way we can appreciate is building such facility to promote our athletes,” said Birir.
He says that training and running on grass track may not offer much help to an athlete.
“For any runner to gain needed time, they have to train on tartan or murrum but grass is not ideal for any. Since we lack such facility, the finished product will help in a big way,” he added.
Birir added that the prize money remains the same at kshs 250,000 for the winner trickling down to position ten.
“We are not going to change the prize money. At the same time, the course will remain the same like that of last year.
Race chairman Joseph Cheruiyot was optimistic that the growth of the race associated by the trust among community.
“For us to have such race uninterrupted, we have to meet the athletes and local needs,” said Cheruiyot.
At the same time, they have handed a wild card to top three 2022 finishers in this year’s race set to be held on November 11th in Eldama Ravine, baringo County.
The former Olympic Games 3,000m steeplechase champion added that race has been growing yearly with many sponsors coming on board to ensure that the running and training environment for athletes.
“As athletes, we need a clean weather and environment to train well in fresh air to get quality results. For the last eight years we have been working to bring sanity among ourselves,” added Birir.