Favourites Muia and Nzisa rule Makueni Half races

Favourites Bernard Katui Muia and Africa Cross sixth finisher Nancy Nzisa outshone the men and women fields of the second Makueni Half Marathon over the weekend.

Muia braved a stiff challenge to emerge the winner of the 21km men’s race in 66:40 to hold off the fast finishing John Mulu who was eight seconds in arrears over the last kilometre as Stephen Mwendwa (67:02) filled the podium in a Makueni 1-2-3.

“The race was tough due to hilly terrain and hot weather that characterized the better part of Saturday morning. I had done enough practice and that is why I won today’s marathon,” Muia, 21, said after the gruelling race ran in baking conditions.

The winner is keen on representing his country next season having tried to break into the national team without success since 2010 when he finished eighth in the 1500m heats of the IAAF World Junior Trials in Nairobi.

In the corresponding women’s race, Machakos and Kenya Prisons runner, Nzisa who was sixth on her national team debut at the Yaoundé Africa Cross in March proved her class by completing a dominant victory.

She completed the course that started at Unoa Sports ground at Wote Town that took the runners to Kwa Kathoka and back for the finish in 78:25.

“The route was very hard but I made,” she said, calling upon parents to nurture talent they spot in their children from the region.

Sharon Muriuki also from Machakos was second by 82: 23 head of former steeplechase World Junior bronze winner Lucia Kamene of Makueni who came third in 83:23.

The 10K race was specifically meant only for athletes from Makueni County with while the 21K was meant for all.

Makueni County Deputy Governor Adelina Mwau said the event was one of the schemes the County Government was using to promote talent and local tourism.

Athletics Kenya vice-president and Southern Branch chairman Paul Mutwii challenged neighbouring Machakos and Kitui counties to organise such events.

John Nzau Mwangangi, who is preparing to defend his title in Valencia, Spain and Vincent Mumo who has participated thrice in the were among leading athletes who were present in support of the event where the winners in the men and women half marathons took home Ksh50,000 each.