Bor, Chirchir toast to Kisumu County Road Race titles

Emmanuel Borr and Everlyne Chirchir are the winners of the 1st edition of Safaricom Kisumu County Road Race held on Sunday December 15 at Kenyatta grounds in Kisumu City.

Bor, fresh from winning the 2019 Safaricom Imenti South 15km race clocked 28:32:70 to win the men race ahead of Nandi based Josphat Kipchirchir(28:53:30) and Bethwel Kipkemboi Ruto (29:01:50)  who settled for second and third position respectively.

“The race today was okay but the humidity was very high as opposed to Nandi where I normally train. The course was however smooth, not hilly and it made me clinch the title easily.

I started behind but in the middle of the race that is 5km I sprinted and overtook my two main competitors to reach the finishing line first,” a delighted Bor told Citizen Digital in a post-race interview.

In  the women category, Everlyne Chirchir who hails from Keringet and who won the 2019 Keringet Road Race two weeks ago as well as the 10km Dam tot Damloop in the Netherlands in September needed only 32 minutes 30:10 seconds to clinch the women title as Irene Kimahisi from Baringo(32:53:40) and Judith Chepngetich from Nandi(33:19:40) emerged second and third respectively.

“The race was very tough for me and the win came as a surprise to me because I didn’t expect it. It was very hot in Kisumu and the course was flat, since I am not used to a such a course. It was not a walk in the park for me,” Said Chirchir adding that her focus now shifts to Cross Country.

” I haven’t taken part in Safaricom Kisumu Road race before, this was my first time and the experience wasn’t that bad, I have now shifted my focus for the 2020 national cross country.”

Top three winners in both men and women 10km category walked  away with Sh100,000, Sh50,000 and Sh25,000 respectively.

More than 348 participants took part in the event.

The sponsors (Safaricom) pumped Sh1 million to the race, Sh1.5 million short of the usual Sh 2.5 million annual sponsorship.

Joseph Ochieng, Nyanza North Athletics Kenya (AK) chair, in an interview with Citizen Digital,  thanked all the participants who participated in the event hailing the huge turnout.

“I am very impressed by the turn up and how the preparations were done. We thought the numbers would go down after the course was reduced from 42km t but it was not the case,” noted Ochieng.

Other categories in the races today  included 6km for the junior women, 8km for junior men, 2km for kids and Masters category for aged athletes.

In the Masters category, Nancy Kimaiyo emerged victorious followed by Zipporah Eleman and Lownida Opiyo while David Koech, Julius Kiptanui and Francis Gafule conquered men’s category.

Branly Adhiambo(24.42.23), Selpha Munara(25:04:81) and Winnie Chepkurui (25:25:81) swept top three slots in 6km girls while Vireest Odhiambo (27:37:42), Evans Omondi (28:13:12), Victor Otieno (28:16:54) replicated the same in 8KM Boys category.

Results In General

10km Men winners

Emmanuel Bor (28.32.70)

Josphat Kipchirchir (28.53.30)

Bethwel Kipkemboi Ruto (29.01.50)

10KM Women winners

Everlyne Chirchir (32:30:10)

Irene Kimahisi (32.53.40)

Judith Chepngetich (33:19:40)

Masters Category Men winners

David Koech

Julius Kiptanui Pilat

Francis Gafule.

Masters Category Women winners

Nancy Kimaiyo

Zipporah Eleman

Lewnida Opiyo

8KM Boys

Vireest Odhiambo (Siaya) – 27:37:42

Evans Omondi (Kisumu) – 28:13:12

Victor Otieno (Kisumu) – 28:16:54

6KM Girls

Branly Adhiambo (Siaya) – 24:42:23

Selpha Munara (Busia) – 25:04:81

Winnie Chepkurui (Nandi) – 25:25:81