MTN Mbale Half Marathon Attracts Nearly 2,000

The MTN Marathon Season started in Mbale on Sunday with thousands turning up for the 2nd edition of the MTN Mbale road race.

Nearly 2,000 people turned up for the MTN Mbale National Championships that were flagged off at the Maluku grounds, Mbale. The majority of the people participated in the 10kms road race leaving the 21kms half marathon to the elite runners mostly from Sebei region. The marathon was flagged off by Omukuka Mushikori Bob of the Inzu Ya Masaba at 8:00am on Sunday, 4th November 2018.

Last month, MTN announced that it would be having the first Marathon Season that includes runs in Mbale, Gulu and Mbarara before the main MTN Kampala Marathon. The regional race Mbale is one of the most competitive runs especially for the elite runners. It is no surprise that several athletics clubs sent some of their best elite runners to participate. Additionally, of all the three regional runs, it is only Mbale that has the 21kms half marathon. For the Gulu and Mbarara runs, it is only the 10kms road race.

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Doreen Chessang from the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) Club took the honors in the Women’s 21kms half marathon. She completed the race in 1hour 17 minutes and 28 seconds. The 2017 Mbale Half Marathon champion, Emily Chebet the UPDF club finished second slightly over a minute later. Chemutai Vanis from the Uganda Prisons club finished third.

In the Men’s Half Marathon the top five slots were shared between KCCA Athletics Club and the Uganda Police Force Athletics Club. Rotich Maxwell from KCCA won the half marathon in 1 minute three minutes and 46 seconds. Musau Martin from Uganda Police finished second and Mutai Alex from KCCA finished third.
The top 10 from the 10kms and 21kms all walked away with prize money.

The collections made from the kit registration are expected to be used to support the improvement of maternal health in Eastern Uganda. The next regional road race takes in Gulu on Sunday 11th November 2018.
Winners top 5

21kms women
1. Doreen Chessang – UWA – 1:17:28
2. Chebet Emily – UPDF – 1:18:56
3. Chemutai Vanis – Prisons – 1:19:20
4. Cheptegei Rebecca- UPDF – 1:20:31
5. Chebet Prisca – Police – 1:20:49

21kms men

1.Rotich Maxwell – kcca – 1:03:46
2. Musau Martin – Police – 1:04:08
3. Mutai Alex – KCCA – 1:04:39
4. Kwemoi Victor – Police: 1:05:04
5. Cherop Sam – Police 1:05:13

10kms Men
1. Kurong Moses – Police
2. Chepkurui Mathew – police
3. Chebet Abel – Police
4. Chepuref Ali – KCCA
5. Cherop Alex – Police

10kms Women
1. Chemutai Belinda – prisons
2. Chebet Betty – Arua
3. Chessang Annette – UWA
4. Chekwoi Teddy – KCCA
5. Chebet Scarlet – Scarlet