It was pomp and colour as Iten born Daniel Simiyu and Lydia Njeri won the 8th edition of the annual Sotokoto marathon for both men and ladies category at the Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization (KALRO) retreat Grounds Muguga, Kiambu County.
Simiyu won the 21 Km race with a time of 1 hour 02 .57 sec followed in second spot by Nakuru based Leonard Lagat with a time of 1;03.46 with David Maru from Mt.Elgon coming third after clocking 1;04.40sec.
In the ladies category, Lydia Njeri from Iten emerged the winner with a time of 1;14.28 followed by Nancy Meto and Shelmith Muriuki with a time of 1;14.51 and 1;15.53 respectively.
The winners in the 21 km race pocketed Ksh. 100,000 while the second and third finishers went home with Ksh.70, 000 and 50,000 respectively.
Other runners in the race included Machakos county First Lady Lillian Nganga(wife to Governor Alfred Mutua),Legendary Henry Wanyoike, and 2000 Gold medallist in Sydney Takahashi Naoko among other elites.
The Sotokoto Marathon founded in 2009 by Douglas Wakiihuri, Kenya’s first ever World Marathon champion attracted over 2,000 local and foreign runners with majority coming from Japan.Some of the sponsors included Mitsubishi Corporation,Miraca,Kalro and Rohto makers of fast relief ointment Deepheat among others.
The runners included elite athletes,Corporates,recreational runners,Paralympics athletes,Special Olympics, and Children.
In his speech,Wanyoike said he used the event to prepare for the forthcoming Lewa Marathon that will be held next week in Lodwar.He lauded Sotokoto organizers for maintaining the integrity of the glamour event that attracted a good turn-out .He added that sports brings people together and at the same time shaping up the youth to become honest leaders by abstaining from bad vices.
He castigated Athletes involved in doping for spoiling Kenya’s image and their future. ‘Shortcuts in sports will never help.I castigate our Athletes who have engaged with anti-doping issues.They have spoilt our image as a country and also their future.” He noted.
In attendance were legendary Athlete Lorna Kiplagat,Kiambu Athletics Kenya(AK) officials led by Chairlady Irene Wamuyu,Rosemary Wairimu(secretary) and George Kinuthia among other officials.
This year’s theme “Healthy you,Healthy Environment” is in support of promoting efforts towards a world without waste just a few days after the world marked world Environment Day.
