Rudisha, Tergat top names for South Rift race in Samburu

The stage is all but set for the South Rift Region athletics competition to take place at the Kenyatta Stadium in Maralal town, Samburu County for the first time ever.

The event, penciled for February 9, will bring athletes from five counties namely Transnzoia, West Pokot, Elgeyo Markwet, Turkana and Samburu who will compete in different races.

The County Director of Sports Mathew Lesiyampe said five governors, National Olympic Committee of Kenya President Paul Tergat, Athletics Kenya President Lt Gen (Rtd) Jackson Tuwei and 800m champion David Rudisha among many top guests are invited to attend the event.

“At the moment, the county’s department of sports is in the process of selecting the best team that will represent it in the competition,” said Lesiyampe.

He went on: “On Februery2, all the county’s three sub counties are  expected  to submit a list of 16 athletes for a competition in every category –  10Km race, 8km  and 6km for junior girls. On that day we will select a team that will represent the county in four different athletics races.”

The 16 were the most successful athletes in the previous athletics competition that were held on January 26 at every sub county during the department of sports’ talent search mission.

Meanwhile, the Kenyatta Stadium is being spruced up ahead of inter-county competition.