Preparations for Nairobi City Marathon in top gear, says Korir

Preparations for the fifth edition of the Nairobi City Marathon are in top gear, ahead of the June 7 race, with organizers confirming that all registration slots have already been taken.

Speaking in an interview on Sporty Monday, Citizen TV on Monday, competition director Barnaba Korir said the turnout this year has gone beyond what they expected after more than 17,500 people registered for the event.

“We had targeted 15,000 participants, but to our surprise more than 17,500 people have already registered and the numbers are still going up every minute,” said Korir.

Korir said organizers are currently putting final touches on the event and are waiting for medals and official t-shirts that were imported ahead of the marathon. He added that the team is working closely with the Nairobi City County Government and other sports leaders to ensure everything runs smoothly on race day.

He also revealed that the list of elite athletes expected to compete will be released soon. According to Korir, international participation has also increased this year, with 960 runners from China and another 800 participants from the Central Bank already registered.

“The purpose of this marathon is to show the world that Kenya does not only produce runners, but can also organize a marathon of this level,” he said. “We hope the event will continue growing and help promote marathon running in Kenya and beyond.”

Korir credited technical director Ibrahim Hussein together with fellow competition director Kennedy Tanui for helping oversee preparations for the race. He said that they are waiting for experts who will assess infrastructure, accommodation, transport and stadium facilities ahead of the marathon.

“With the support we are getting, we believe next year we can attract more than 30,000 participants,” added Korir.

Korir, a former athlete for more than 18 years, said his experience in the sport has helped him understand both the good and difficult sides of marathon organization. He also urged Kenyans to come out in large numbers to support local athletes during the event.

“Fans should come out and support our own because this marathon belongs to Kenyans,” Korir said, during show, host by Isaac Swila.