23-year-old Doreen Kibet, ran away with the top honors at the Betika 15km Road Race held on Sunday (10) in Iten, Elgeywo Marakwet.
Kibet who hails from Kapsabet in Nandi County, secured a dominant victory with a time of 51:06. Having previously finished second at the Betika Kapsabet race in April, Kibet’s performance today showed remarkable growth as she led Judy Jepnge’tich and Naomi Chemweno, who finished in 52 minutes and 52 minutes and 10 seconds respectively.
Kibet, who expressed a deep fondness for the challenging landscape of Iten, stated that the terrain is certainly not for the weak and serves as a true test of an athlete’s mettle. She revealed her intentions to use her winnings to secure professional management, highlighting that for any athlete to transition successfully to the global stage, having a dedicated team is essential to managing the business of sports so the athlete can focus entirely on their training and performance.
Kibet walked away with KES 250,000 each, while the runners-up earned KES 150,000. The third-place finishers took home KES 100,000. Recognition extended down to tenth position, with fourth and fifth place athletes earning KES 50,000 and KES 40,000 respectively, while those finishing between sixth and tenth received KES 20,000 each, ensuring a wide impact on the local athletic community.
Speaking at the event, Betika’s Group Head of Brand Eric Mwiti said ” Iten has always been the barometer for athletic excellence and today was no different. Seeing over 1,000 athletes from across the region and beyond converge here proves that the Betika Iten Road Race is becoming a critical fixture for those looking to test their limits against the very best.”
The Betika Iten Road Race continues to serve as a beacon for aspiring runners, bridging the gap between grassroots potential and professional excellence. As the athletes return to their respective training camps, the energy left behind in Iten serves as a reminder of Kenya’s enduring legacy as a global powerhouse in long-distance running.