Tecla Kirongo headlines Kenyan contigent to Cape Town Marathon

2018 Mataram Lombok Marathon champion Tecla Kirongo will lead a Kenyan contigent to the ninth Sanlam Cape Town Marathon set for 16 October. 

Local non-bank finance solutions provider, Sanlam Kenya, on Thursday 6, October, flagged off elite Kenyan athletes to represent the country at the event. The contingent has seven athletes. 

Kirongo has been in action twice this year, placing third at the Maratón BP Castellón, Castellón with a time of 2:28:22 before clocking 2:34:22 in the ‘Run Rome the Marathon’ in Roma in March. 

Also lining up for the race will be this year's  Kigali International Peace Marathon silver medalist  Rebecca Korir who is the 2019 Warsaw Marathon champion. 

This year's Stockholm Marathon fourth-place finisher who clocked 1:09:05 for second place in last year's Trento Half Marathon Judith Cherono is also on the list of the Kenyans set to line up in the women's race. 

Former 3000m steeplechase specialist and this year’s Generali Geneve Marathon silver medalist Marion Kibor completes the women's list. 

In the men's race Raymond Kipchumba, Brian Kipsang and Joshua Kogo will represent the country. 

The ninth edition of the annual event will be taking place on Sunday 16 but will be preceded by a range of other races with varying distances on 15 Saturday October 2022.

The theme for this year’s marathon is ‘African Champions Unite’. It seeks to enable African champions from across the continent to compete and sharpen their talent. 

Speaking at the flag off ceremony, Sanlam Kenya Group CEO Dr. Patrick Tumbo reiterated Sanlam’s commitment towards nurturing Kenya’s athletic talent, as a growing career for many young Kenyans across the country.

“We are proud to have one of Kenya’s leading female athletes as the flag-bearer this year. In total, we have 7 Kenyan athletes (4 ladies and 3 men) flying the country’s flag high. 

As Africa’s only Gold Label Status Marathon and Abbott World Marathon Major Candidate event, the Sanlam marathon provides us with numerous opportunities to affect positive change in the communities we operate in. 

This race is a way for us to continue to foster the growth of Africa’s economy and showcase the unparalleled potential of her people," he offered.