Amon Kiptoo and Evalyne Chirchir stamped their authority at the 3rd edition of the Imani Seven-Forks Half Marathon held Saturday in Gitaru, Mbeere South, Embu County, claiming victory in the men’s and women’s 21km races respectively.
The event, which attracted elite athletes from across the country, seamlessly blended sporting excellence with a charitable cause, as proceeds will go toward supporting orphans and vulnerable children at Imani Christian School in Kiambere.
Kiptoo, a 31-year-old Iten-based long-distance runner, displayed his endurance and tactical prowess to win the men’s 21km title in a time of 1:03:44, narrowly holding off Nakuru’s Wesley Kipkemboi, who clocked 1:04:00. Elgeyo-Marakwet’s Kiprop Kimutai rounded off the podium in 1:04:06.
Fresh from a strong season that included a victory at the 2024 Zurich Rock ‘n’ Roll Running Series in Madrid and a podium finish at the Incheon International Half Marathon in South Korea, Kiptoo described the Embu course as one of the most demanding.
“The course was quite challenging, especially with the high temperatures, but I’m happy I managed to maintain my pace to the finish line,” said Kiptoo after his win.
In the women’s 21km race, Nakuru’s Evalyne Chirchir reclaimed the title she won in the inaugural edition, finishing in 1:13:03. The 2023 Standard Chartered Nairobi Marathon champion edged out Elgeyo-Marakwet’s Jackline Chepng’eno (1:13:46) and Nandi’s Glorias Chepkirui (1:14:29) in a hotly contested race.
Chirchir, who is currently training for next month’s Boston Half Marathon, echoed Kiptoo’s sentiments about the race’s toughness.
“It was a tough course with intense heat, but I’m glad to reclaim the title,” she said.
The 10km men’s category saw a local hero emerge as Alexander Njae from Embu thrilled the home crowd with a hard-fought win in 31:45. He was closely followed by Austin Kagunya of Nyandarua (31:50) and Lampard Mutuku (31:52).
In the women’s 10km event, Regina Wambui of Nairobi crossed the finish line first in 36:58, narrowly beating Nakuru’s Carren Chemutai (37:05) and Sharon Cherotich (37:13) to the tape.
Winners in the 21km races each walked away with a cash prize of KSh 250,000, while the 10km champions took home KSh 150,000.
Organised by Imani Christian School in collaboration with local sponsors and community leaders, the Imani Seven-Forks Half Marathon continues to grow in stature as a unique event that champions both athletic excellence and social responsibility.
“Beyond the competition, this marathon is about giving back to society and creating opportunities for children in need,” said one of the event coordinators.
Since its inception, the marathon has established itself as one of Embu County’s premier sporting events, making a lasting impact by supporting education, nutrition, and essential services for orphans and vulnerable children.
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