The 13th edition of the Re-discover Nandi Road Race has received KSh 3 million boost from betting firm Mozzart Bet, its title sponsors for the annual event.
Mozzart Bet was, for the second successive year, unveiled as the title sponsor for the 10km race set for Sunday, July 3, during a press conference held at the Golden Tulip hotel, Westlands earlier today.
The race attracts a number of experienced athletes mainly emerging from Nandi, a county revered for its ability to churn out top runners, who eventually represent Kenya in the global athletics scene.
The event is geared towards environmental conservation and restoration of the county’s shrinking water towers and wetlands.
It is a theme that a majority can relate to in the wake of the resounding effects of climate change felt the world over this year.
Mozzart Bet Country Manager, Sasa Krneta, announced the KSh3 million sponsorship while reaffirming the company’s mission to make Kenya a better place and the need for more investment in conservation and sports promotion.
“The theme of the race has always been in line with Mozzart’s mission to make Kenya a better place for the communities. The forest cover in Nandi is 24% and the intention is to push it to 50% to supplement government efforts of having 10% forest cover countrywide,” offered Country Manager Sasa Krneta as he announced the KSh3 million sponsorship.
Representatives from the Ministry of Environment and Forestry, Ministry of Water, Sanitation and Irrigation as well as Athletics Kenya, also graced the event.
A tree-planting exercise bringing together all the tea estates in Nandi County will be held a day before the race on Saturday, July 2.
Local Organizing Committee (LOC) chairperson Hosea Sanga says the event attracted 550 male and 230 female athletes drawn from across the country, adding that more are expected to show interest.
“We have seen tremendous growth since the inception of this race. The impact on the community has also been immense since we launched the tree planting exercise. We also use the registration fees from athletes to buy and distribute sanitary towels to schools around the community where that race takes place,” offered Sanga.
Hosea says registration is set to open in the coming week. The race will be flagged off from Nandi Forest, Kapsasur on Kisumu Road and at Namgoi Primary School.
Each of the participating athletes will also be provided with tree seedlings to plant as part of measures to mitigate climate change. This is through an initiative themed “Nandi Forest Cover Champions”.
Last year, experienced long-distance athletes Nancy Jelagat and Emmanuel Bor conquered the hilly course to be crowned champions of the 12th edition in Kapsabet.
Jelagat who won the 2019 Family Bank Half Marathon clocked 31.30 to storm to victory ahead of Daisy Jerotich who timed 31.38 while Naomi Chepng’eno completed the podium places in 32.31.
Bor, finished meters ahead of closest competitor Daniel Kiprotich in 28.21 as the latter bagged silver in 28.39. Victor Rotich was third in 28.42.
Among notable winners of the event since its inception in 2006 is World Championships bronze medalist at the 2017 and 2019 events in 10,000m, the late Agnes Tirop who won the 2018 edition of the race. Others include 2012 World Half Marathon bronze medalist Paskalia Chepkorir.
