Joshua Kithuku and Naomy Chebet are the winners of the 2024 Betika Uasin Gishu Half Marathon held in Eldoret on Sunday that attracted over 700 local and international contestants.
Kithuku cut the tape in 1:00:37 to beat World Cross Country Champion Daniel Simiu to second place in the men’s cutthroat showpiece that saw him bag the Sh300,000 prize money.
Likewise, Chebet clocked 1:10:00 to lift the hotly contested women’s showdown to go home with a similar amount.
“By design, the race was grueling, and I am grateful for the extensive training I underwent prior to the contest. The trick to my victory was maintaining a consistent tempo till the finish line,” Kitui County based Kithuku told Standard Sports.
Elated Chebet stated after her sweet victory: “I’m happy with the win and the equal prize money for both men and women in this race is a significant step towards achieving gender equality in sports.
“This decision is a step in the right direction. It is removing the gender obstacles that have plagued the sports industry. It is acknowledging the exceptional skills and commitments by the female athletes.”
Runners-up in both categories will receive Sh 200,000 for their efforts. Third place finishers will go home Sh 100,000 richer while fourth and fifth place finishers will get Sh 50,000 and Sh 40,000 in that order. Also, participants who placed sixth through to tenth in both categories will be awarded Sh 20,000 each.
Eric Mwiti, Brand Manager at Betika, expressed his admiration for the high-level talent displayed during the race. He emphasized their commitment towards supporting and nurturing grassroot talents.
He also highlighted the half marathon’s role in fostering upcoming runners while building strong community ties within the sporting community in Kenya.
“All the awarded runners have been tested by the national anti-doping body ADAK and prizes will be disbursed as soon as we receive the results,” Mwiti said.
