What makes Iten Marathon a show to remember

A participant sprints to the finish line during last year's Iten International Marathon. [Christopher Kipsang, Standard]

Elgeyo Marakwet County is today hosting the third Iten International Marathon, a race billed to electrify one of the world’s most preferred training destinations.

Later in the day, top athletes will have conquered the roads of Iten and red carpet will have been rolled out for the podium finishers in a town that continues to produce world beaters.

Athletics enthusiasts will have enjoyed spectacular 42km and 10km races at the 2024 edition of the Iten International Marathon.

Throngs of visitors, who have been trooping to the town to catch a glimpse of the showdown and cheer marathoners, are eager to interact with Kenya’s prolific road and track stars.

As demonstrated in the 2022 and 2023 editions, Iten’s chilly weather especially during the morning hours isn’t likely to stop athletics enthusiasts from turning out in their traditional huge numbers.

From favourable weather and an altitude suitable for athletics training, to a high concentration of training camps, and to World Athletics recognition, Iten maintains its status.

The Standard Sport looks at what makes the Iten International Marathon extravaganza a show to remember.

Team spirit

Although athletics is an individual sport, camps and management define athletics competitions in Iten because runners associate with their training groups and they form teamwork based on that.

Training camps have inculcated in athletes the spirit of teamwork, making them compete as teams.

Counterparts, at training camps, who are not competing in today’s marathon, are spectators, cheering their training mates on the sidelines.

Last year, for instance, champion Luke Kiprop was cheered on by among others, world 10,000m silver medallist Daniel Ebenyo, who offered him the running shoes he used to cruise to victory.

Athletes compete at home

With over 4,000 athletes training there, Iten International Marathon gives them the opportunity to compete and earn prize money at home.

Athletes such as last year’s champion, Kiprop, were spotted after emerging victorious in Iten.

“Kiprop got his first passport after the Iten International Marathon. He is preparing for Boston Marathon after competing in Berlin Marathon last month,” his coach Eric Kogo said.

According to organisers, several athletes competing in the Iten International Marathon wake up and walk to the start line and compete.

Coaches watch showstoppers

Coaches, who in most occasions don’t travel with their protégés to global races, are using the marathon to assess their athletes.

Among athletics tacticians who have rarely missed competitions in Iten, is Brother Colm O’Connell, an Irish missionary and teacher-turned coach.

O’Connell is considered one of the fathers of athletics coaching in Kenya, having trained Kenyan stars from the 1970s.

In 2018, O'Connell was recognised during Mashujaa Day, just two months after an Iten road was named after him.

The road leading to St Patrick’s High School where he lives, was named O’Connell Street in his honor.

He has coached for nearly 50 years making the high altitude town a powerhouse of world beaters.

He came to Kenya in 1976 and developed a passion for athletics, coaching dozens of runners before establishing a training camp in 1989.

The 800m Olympic champion and world record holder David Rudisha and world U-20 is among his trainees.

“This is indeed a huge recognition. The athletes I have trained have made me who I am today,” O’Connell said after a street was named after him in August 2018.

He has produced the highest number track and road race champions including Olympic Gold medalist in 1500m in 1988 Peter Rono, Matthew Birir (1992 Olympics gold in 3000m steeplechase), Wilson Kipketer (800m former world record holder in the year 2000), Wilson Boit (former world record holder, 3000m steeplechase and 2001 world champion), and Wilberforce Talel (2003 world champion in 10,000m).

Town twinned with Miramas

Today’s race is happening when Iten town is still elated after it was twinned French town of Miramas on November 2.

Iten and Miramas made the declaration to conjoin the two towns, located miles apart, in a move designed to advance athletics training, and the town will still be celebrating the move that raised its status as an invaluable training base.

To solidify the collaboration between Iten and Miramas twin towns were the Mayor of the French town Frederic Vigouroux and the country’s ambassador to Kenya Arnaud Suquet. Vigouroux said 12 Kenyan athletics coaches will be selected for technical training in Iten in December before proceeding to Miramas for an advanced course early next year.

The Mayor said sports has united the two towns, noting that the friendship between the two communes grew stronger during the 2024 Paris Olympics.

Kenya, through a partnership with the National Olympic Committee of Kenya (NOC-K) struck a training deal with Miramas for athletes preparing for major international championships in France.

Elgeyo Marakwet Governor Wisley Rotich says training of Kenyan athletics coaches under the Iten-Miramas partnership would enhance preparedness for international championships including the 2025 Tokyo World Championships.

The town had been awarded the World Athletics heritage plaque for its contributions in the development of athletics.

Modern timing system

Electronic time is in place during the 2024 edition, and results posted by athletes taking part in today’s contest will meet international standards.

According to organisers, the 2024 edition is ticking the boxes of an international race.

"It will be more exciting because the electronic timing will ensure that times recorded will be recognized and our stars will secure entries to global races," Sports executive Purity Koima said.