By OUR CORRESPONDENT
Robert Kiprop and Gladys Chepkurui are the 2025 Uasin Gishu Half Marathon champions, following a stellar performance in the race held in Eldoret on Sunday.
Kiprop, the 2019 All-African Games winner over 5000m, clocked an impressive 1:00:00.06 to storm to victory in the men’s race, finishing ahead of Peter Tuitoek and Titus Kiprotich, who stopped the clock at 1:00:58 and 1:01:05, respectively.
Speaking after the race, Kiprop said: “I was in good shape and I am happy to have won the race today. I decided to go all the way with 2 KM left and after sticking with the leading pack for the better part of the race. It is good that we are having more of such races to help us stay in top form.”
On her part, Chepkurui timed 1:08:56 to cut the tape first as Vivian Cherotich and Christine Ndambi finished second and third after clocking 1:10:02 and 1:10:27 in that order.
Chepkurui said: “I am happy to have won, although my body was not in its best form. In the previous editions, I have always been going all out at the start but fading towards the end, but today I just decided to stick with the leading group, then kicked hard towards the end.”
It was an improved performance by both Kiprop and Chepkurui from last year’s edition of the race, where they finished 10th and third respectively. Joshua Kithuku, who won the men’s race last year, settled for fifth place.
Following their triumphs, the winners bagged Sh 300,000 each while the first runners-up received Sh 200,000 for their efforts. Third place finishers went home Sh 100,000 richer while fourth, fifth, and sixth place finishers got Sh 50,000, Sh 40,000 and sh 30,000 in that order. Also, participants who finished seventh through to tenth in both categories were awarded Sh 20,000 each.
In the Masters category, one for athletes aged 50 years and above for both men and women, Francis Bowen and Joyce Kirui emerged victorious in the men’s and women’s race, respectively to receive Sh 30,000 each.
Speaking after the race, Betika Head of Brand Eric Mwiti said: “Congratulations to both Robert and Gladys for winning the race, and to every athlete who came out to compete. Today’s turnout was good, and we look forward to seeing these athletes at the BingwaFest Season 2 opener in Nakuru next weekend. At Betika, our commitment to athletics remains strong as ever to ensure we play a part in growing the sport.”
This was the third edition of the Betika Uasin Gishu Marathon.
