Winners of this year’s edition of the First Lady’s Half Marathon will pocket Ksh5.6M, the company organising the event has confirmed. Both men and women participating and winning the 21-kilometre race will walk away with Ksh750,000 each, while winners of the 10-kilometre race will pocket Ksh250,000 each.
Announcing the prize kitty, IMG Kenya CEO Peter Gacheru, said although the focus of the race was on the Beyond Zero Campaign, it was important that the prize kitty reflects the stature of the race. “The First Lady’s Half Marathon is designed to raise awareness and funds for the Beyond Zero Campaign, nevertheless, we felt it was important to offer attractive prize monies to reward our budding and elite athletes,” said Mr Gacheru. “The prize amounts for both men and women are similar, because this race holds both runners to the same standard.”
The first runner up to fifth place winners in both men and women 21km contest will pocket, Ksh500,000, Ksh250,000, Ksh150,000 and Ksh100,000 respectively. The 6th place winner will take Ksh50,000 and the 7th place winner will take Ksh30,000. The 8th to 10th place winners will take Ksh20,000 each, the 11th to 15th place winners will take Ksh10,000 each and the 16th to 20th place winners will take Ksh10,000 each.
In the 10km category, the first runner up to fourth place winners will pocket Ksh100,000, Ksh50,000 and Ksh20,000. The fifth place to 10th place winners will take Ksh10,000 each and the 11th to 20th place winners will take Ksh5,000 each. Tricycle and wheelchair winners will take home Ksh100,000 and Sh50,000 respectively in both the men and women categories.
“With slightly over Ksh2m available in prize money in both the men and women categories of the 21km race and just over half a million Kenya shillings available in prize money in both the men and women categories of the 10km race, we are expecting this First Lady’s Half Marathon to be hotly contested,” Gacheru added. “Indeed we have seen some international names like Abel Kirui register, to use this race as preparation for international assignments but also to take advantage of the money on offer.”
The second edition of the First Lady’s Half Marathon will be held from the Nyayo Stadium on Sunday March 8, 2015. Over 20,000 participants are expected to take part in the event.
