Narok hosts two-day athletics extravaganza aimed at talent identification

Narok County is hosting the inaugural Transmara Classics Athletics at Kilgoris DEB Primary School in Kilgoris town.

According to race organizers, Gigiz Sports Management Limited, more than 1,500 athletes are competing in the two-day competition aimed at identifying young talent in the sport.

The athletes are battling out for honors in the 100m, 200m, 400m, 800m, 1500m, and 3,000m races. Apart from track and field activities, the Maasai are also competing in traditional sports such as Rungu throwing and jumping, which is part of the Maa culture.

The debut event is drawing participants from the local schools and training camps from the region.

Speaking ahead of the event, Gigiz Sports Management Director Betty Rono said the event’s objective is to empower the Narok girl to ascend to the global map of athletics like the rest of the communities.

“Once we get the fine athletes we will be able to introduce and give them further trainings in the camps in places like Iten and its environs. We want them to have a feel of places where our world beaters have trained,” said Rono.

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While lauding the sponsors and partners to the event, Rono said the Narok county government will award the race winners cash prizes.

“Being our first event, we are delighted that the county government and the local leadership has embraced it and we are certain this event will grow to the next level,” Rono added.

The Transmara region has produced a constellation of memorable names in the world of athletics, like former 800m Billy Konchellah, his younger brother the late Patrick Konchellah,1968 Mexico Olympics, silver medalist Daniel Rudisha and his son, the 800m world record holder David Lekuta Rudisha among others.

Narok governor Patrick ole Ntutu will grace the event, Tourism PS John Ololtuaa, Kilgoris MP Julius Sunkuli, among other top dignitaries.

The races coincide with the great wildebeest migration.The event organizers pointed out the need to hold activities in the region to give visitors to Masai Mara an opportunity for other experiences away from the wildebeest migration.