Kenya is set to scale new heights in athletics and tourism as the Kenya Tourism Board (KTB) and Athletics Kenya (AK) announce plans to launch a Mountain Running series.
The move follows the resounding success of the Mt Longonot Trail Challenge on Saturday, Kenya’s inaugural Mountain Running World Ranking competition.
Ruth Gitonga emerged victorious in the women’s race clocking 1:14:50. Philaris Kisang ( 1:15:25 ) and Joyline Chepngeno ( 1:16:45 ) completed the podium.
In the men’s race, Timothy Kibet clocked 1:02:04 to win the race ahead of Saoli Selelo ( 1:04:05 ) and Ephantus Njeri ( 1:04:06 ).
Buoyed by the event’s success, KTB CEO June Chepkemei outlined ambitious plans to collaborate with AK and other stakeholders to establish a series of mountain runs showcasing Kenya’s stunning landscapes.
“There is no better way to highlight Kenya’s breathtaking scenery and position our country as a top tourist destination than through mountain and trail running,” Chepkemei said.
“We have agreed with AK to build a series of events that will capture the diverse landscapes across the country,” she said.
The next stop on the calendar is the Barng’etuny Mountain Run in Nandi County next month, a region renowned for its lush terrain and athletic heritage.
“This is just the beginning of showcasing our country through sports tourism. Next month, we will be in Nandi County for the Barng’etuny Mountain run to showcase Nandi’s beautiful landscape,” she said.
She reaffirmed the board’s commitment to working with various sports stakeholders in positioning the country as a tourist hub.
“Going forward, we will work with different counties to have such races that showcase Kenya to the global community. We are committed to working with the sporting fraternity to showcase Kenya through sports,” she said.
AK marketing director Abraham Mutai said the Longonot Trail Challenge marked a significant step in marketing Kenya through sports.
“The tourism board is partnering with us to support sports tourism, which has taken off significantly with the Mt. Longonot event,” Mutai said.
Mutai expressed gratitude to the sponsors who contributed to the event’s success.
“This inaugural event was a huge success and it felt like we have been hosting it for years. Thanks to KTB, the World Mountain Running Association (WMRA) and the Kenya Wildlife Service for their incredible support,” he said.
WMRA President, Tomo Sarf, praised the Longonot event, noting its significance in promoting Kenya’s national parks and tourism.
“We are happy to be here in Kenya and to be part of this amazing Mt Longonot Trail Challenge. We decided to host the race in Longonot to promote the national park, the region as well as Kenyan tourism,” Sarf said.
He said the move
was to get more long-distance
runners involved in the mountain.
