The 2023 edition of Eldoret City Marathon which was scheduled to be held this weekend has been postponed indefinitely.
Race Director Moses Tanui on Thursday announced that the decision had been made due to a number of reasons.
Initially the race was to be held in April but has since been facing postponements.
“This decision has not been made lightly and I want to express our profound regret that we find ourselves in this unfortunate situation,” Tanui said in a statement seen by Uasin Gishu News.
Among the issues that has forced the face to be postponed is delays in arrival of running merchandise.
The merchandise had been shipped from Dubai.
Eldoret City Marathon prize money not secured
However, they are scheduled to arrive after the Marathon day.
The prize money for the race has also not been secured from the new title Sponsors after the county government of Uasin Gishu withdrew m
“We have experienced delays in the arrival of running merchandise shipped from Dubai which we expect to be delivered on Monday morning,” noted the former athlete in the statement.
“Additionally following the withdrawal of the county as a title sponsor, we scouted for new title Sponsors and unfortunately there has been a delay in completion of the transaction to deposit the prize money required to ensure the race meets the high standards that both our athletes and fans rightfully expect,” he added.
Tanui who is the two-time Boston Marathon Champion noted that the postponement was necessary to protect the interests of athletes.
“As a former athlete who understands the immense effort that goes into training and preparations, I cannot in good conscience allow this race to proceed without the assurance that the prize money is available to honour the hard work and dedication of our participants,” he noted.
Not the end of Eldoret City Marathon
With the Eldoret City Marathon postponed Indefinitely, the organizers say they will promptly refund all registration fees.
However, they say the decision does not mark the end of the marathon that has been largely successful since its first edition was held
Tanui said the race will be back once they secure the prize money.
“We will fully dedicate to making this race a reality, but only when we have secured the necessary funds and ensured that the prize money is safely deposited in our bank accounts,” he noted.
“Our athletes deserve nothing less than a fair competition and it’s our responsibility to guarantee that their efforts are justly rewarded,” Tanui added.
Winners of the Marathon have been receiving Ksh3.5 million with all the top 20 athletes in both men and female races also getting cash prizes.
The total cash prize for the Eldoret City Marathon is Ksh18 million, making it among the highest paying races in Africa.
[…] Here’s Why Eldoret City Marathon Has been Postponed Indefinitely […]