Over 500 athletes confirm Eldoret City Marathon participation- Moses Tanui

The routes of the much-anticipated fifth edition of Eldoret City Marathon have been changed, the organizers have revealed.

The 2023 edition of the Eldoret City Marathon will be held on Sunday, 1 October on the streets of Eldoret.

Speaking during a tree planting exercise at the Eldoret Special School, race director Moses Tanui revealed that the changes were brought about by challenges athletes faced in making their way to the starting point.

The race will now have different starting and finishing points.

Tanui further pointed out that athletes have been facing numerous travel challenges commuting from the Sogomo finishing point in the last editions.

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With regard to that, Tanui, a two-time Boston Marathon winner, said that the race will start and finish at the Central Primary School in Eldoret.

He was optimistic that this year's edition would attract top-notch runners.

“This year’s route has been changed and we will start and finish at the same point, Central Primary School in Eldoret. This will help erase the logistical challenges we have had when athletes try to find their way back to where they had dropped their personal effects," said Tanui, a former world 10,000m silver medalist.

Tanui also noted that being less than ten days to the race, they have already secured electronic running numbers while several foreign runners have also enlisted.

“Several athletes from Uganda, Ethiopia, and the USA are among the over 500 athletes who have registered so far. We are expecting the numbers to soar as we get closer to race since Kenyans are known to embrace last-minute rush,” he said.

In attendance was Eldoret Special School principal David Yegon, who pleased the tree planting initiative, noting that it would go a long way in environmental conservation.

"These children need people like us to take care of them and it is good to come together to make their environment better. Whatever you have done here today will go in our history books. We invite you to be with us again,” he said.

Anthony Musyoka, the North Rift region forest conservancy officer, pointed out that the exercise was in sync with President William Ruto's directive to plant 15 billion trees in 10 years in a bid to conserve the environment.

“We have had a good collaboration by planting about 3,700 within the arboretum. We are planting trees within the school for a better and friendly environment,” he said.

The marathon, which happened on April 10 last year, was rescheduled this year due to technical issues that caused a delay in payment of cash awards for the winners. This year's edition was to be held on June 25 but was postponed again to October 1.

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In the 2022 edition, Victor Kipchirchir defended his title in 2:13:10 ahead of Michael Mutai who clocked 2:13:23 while Josephat Bett sealed the podium in 2:13:58.

In the women's category, Emily Chebet won in 2:29:57 ahead of Shyline Jepkorir who timed 2:30:13, while Lilian Jelagat came in third in 2:30:23.