Date set for Mt Kenya Mountain championship

The second edition of the Mt Kenya running championship in Meru will be held on 20th February 2021, Athletics Kenya (AK) has confirmed.

Speaking at Nkubu during a consultative meeting with the steering committee of the championship, Peter Angweny who represented AK President Jackson Tuwei said that the race has been factored in the 2021 Athletics calndar.

“This year’s event was successful. Athletics Kenya has confirmed that they have now put mountain running in Meru County in the official calendar of 2021 February on 20th and that it will be in our local and international calendar” he affirmed.

Joseph Kinyua, former Athletics Kenya treasurer, who is the current chairperson Meru County Sports Council said a scenic course awaits participants.

“The event provided a scenic course for those who participated this year and more is coming. It is good to review the event so as to know where and how to prepare better” said Kinyua.

In her remarks, Felicity Biriri Meru County Investment and Development corporation chair observed that from this year’s event that attracted over 3000 participants from across the globe helped raise over sh. 25 million.

“We have chatted the way forward to improve on what we might have missed from the last event. The event was successful and we got a lot of support where we got sh. 25.9 million in cash and much more in kind. We expect in the next event we will have much more” she appreciated.

The main objective of the run dubbed challenging the height is to raise funds to support the fight against cancer, promote tourism and environmental conservation, with Governor Kiraitu Murungi saying it is on the right track.

“The National government has joined in saying the treasury wants to support our cancer center. They are forming a committee to do a feasibility study and mobilize funding. We call upon other well-wishers to back our noble course” said Kiraitu.

Purity Gitonga from Buuri sub-county of Meru holds the women’s crown after she won the inagurual edition held in February this year at the Kenya School of Adventure and Leadership deep in the Mt. Kenya Forest.

Emmanuel Bor from Nandi County won the men’s category with Martin Mbaabu from Nyeri County coming second and Dennis Kemboi Trans Nzoia closing the best three of the 12Km race