Family Bank Half Marathon Champion Joram Lumbasi won the 10Km Road Race in Iten on Saturday as the Safaricom Athletics Series moved to Elgeyo Marakwet County.
Posting a time of 28:18.9, Lumbasi was closely followed by Gilbert Masai at 28:20.7 and Emmanuel Bor at third place with 28:28.9.
Berlin Half Marathon Silver Medalist Edith Chelimo led the women with a time of 32:06.7 followed by Valary Ayabei at 32:51.5 and Dorcas Jepchirchir at 33:15.0.
About 500 athletes participated at the 8th edition of the annual event which received Sh I million sponsorship from Safaricom bringing the total sponsorship for this race to almost Shs 7 million over the years.
The 10km Road Race was launched by elite marathoner Lornah Kiplagat in 2002 to celebrate the anniversary of her High Altitude Training Centre which has hosted the likes of World Champions Abel Kirui, Florence Kiplagat and Edna Kiplagat and Olympic Medalists Asbel Kiprop and David Rudisha.
“The race was successful and happened as planned. We got athletes from many parts of the country and are proud of the new crop of athletes that emerged victorious,” said Kibet Biwott, the race organizer.
The flag-off for the race was at the boundary between Elgeyo Marakwet and Uasin Gishu Counties along Eldoret–Iten Road at 8.30am with the finishing point at Iten Grounds.
“Our involvement in this event is a sign of our continued commitment to support athletics from the grassroots level. We are happy that through our support the likes of Lumbasi, Chelimo and other talented athletes have received a platform to develop their skills,” said Sylvia Mulinge, Director – Consumer Business Unit – Safaricom.
Winners of this year’s Iten Road Race walked away with Sh.40,000, in both the men’s and women’s races.
Other races in the Series include: Ndalat Gaa Cross Country, Madoka Half Marathon, Imenti South Road Race and Kisumu Town Marathon, which will wind up this year’s edition in December.