By OUR CORRESPONDENT
The stage is set for the inaugural Trans Mara Classics athletics to be held on Sunday at Kilgoris DEB Primary School in Kilgoris Town of Narok County.
According to race organizers, Gigiz Sports Management Limited, more than 1,500 athletes are expected to compete in the two-day competition aimed at identifying young talent in the sport.
The athletes will battle out for honors in the 100, 200, 400, 800, 1500, and 3,000 meters races.
Apart from track and field activities, the Maasai will also compete in traditional sports such as Rungu throwing and jumping, which is part of the Maa culture.
The debut event is drawing participants from the local schools and training camps from the region.
Speaking ahead of the event, Gigiz Sports Management Director Betty Rono said the event’s objective is to empower the Narok girl to ascend to the global map of athletics like the rest of the communities.
“Once we get the fine athletes we will be able to introduce and give them further trainings in the camps in places like Iten and its environs. We want them to have a feel of places where our world beaters have trained,” said Rono.
While lauding the sponsors and partners to the event, Rono said the Narok county government will award the race winners cash prizes; “Being our first event, we are delighted that the county government and the local leadership has embraced it and we are certain this event will grow to the next level.”
800M world recorder holder David Rudisha, Olympic 800M champion Mary Moraa and two times 800M commonwealth champions Wycliffe Kinyamal are expected to attend the race.
The Trans Mara region has produced a constellation of memorable names in the world of athletics, like former 800m Billy Konchellah, his younger brother the late Patrick Konchellah, who is also the brainchild of the event,1968 Mexico Olympics, silver medalist,Daniel Rudisha and his son David Lekuta Rudisha, who is now the World 800 M record holder.
Narok governor Patrick ole Ntutu will grace the event, Tourism PS John Ololtuaa, Kilgoris MP Julius Sunkuli, among other top dignitaries.
The race coincides with the migration of one million wildebeest to the neighboring Serengeti National Park in Tanzania.
The event organizers pointed out the need to hold activities in the region to give visitors to Masai Mara an opportunity for other experiences away from the wildebeest migration.
Maasai Mara National Reserve is one of Africa’s best-known wildlife sanctuaries staggering 1,530 square Kilometres being the home wide variety of wildlife.
Mara, the home of Kenya`s community Maasai popularly known as Maa, are well known for their culture by the way of their life, which provides a glimpse of Africa.
