Big entry for Itibo Ward cross country

Nairobi, Kenya: Over 500 athletes were expected at today's Itibo Ward Cross-country championship at Nyagokiani Boys High School grounds in Nyamira County.

There race has five categories - 12km, 8km, 6km, 2km and a race for disabled children.

Nyanza South Athletics Kenya Chairman Peter Angwenyi said the race was sponsored by Itiboi Ward Representative Samuel Nyanchama in conjunction with AK Nyamira County.

Mr Nyanchama asked prospective athletes to turn up in large numbers for the event, which seeks to promote athletics in the region.

Mr Angwenyi, who also the race organiser, said plans to hold the event were complete and there were cash prizes for the top six finishers in each category.

Meanwhile, the first ever Great Green Race will be held on March 1 in Ruiru, Kiambu County.

The event is sponsored by the Clean Cookstoves Association of Kenya in partnership with Multilink Foundation. According to organisers, the race is in support of clean cooking aimed at saving lives and forests.

The event will be held annually and the main focus is to raise funds towards supporting environment initiatives.

More than 7,000 runners are expected to take part in the inaugural event and a number of well-known athletes will turn up for event featuring a 21km half marathon, 10km road race and 5km family fun run, with winners eyeing the Sh400,000 prize purse on offer.

In a related development, the fourth leg of the AK/KCB cross country series returns to Machakos this weekend. This is the fourth series after Nairobi, Nyahururu and Iten.

A number of top athletes are expected to participate; others will be in Belgium for the IAAF permit meeting on Saturday.

The cross country season will take a break and resume in January in Sotik.