Sunday

Half marathon (21km)

Men Yves Nimubona (Rwanda)-1:3:38 Kimining Shadrack Korir (Kenya)-1:3:48 Joel Mwangi Maina (Kenya)-1:4:36

Women Marthe Yankurije (Rwanda)-01:15:07 Adeline Musabyeyezu (Rwanda)-1:6:28 Kimitei Edna Jerono (Kenya)-1:19:49

Rwandan athletes rolled up their sleeves on Sunday to win the half marathon race at the 2021 Kigali International Peace Marathon as Martha Yankurije and Yves Nimubona scooped gold medals in the women and men half marathon categories, respectively.

More than 700 athletes from around the world took to the streets of Kigali for this year’s edition of the event at which Ethiopian athletes again dominated, especially in the full marathon category.

21-year-old Yankurije became Rwanda’s second female athlete to interrupt Kenyan dominance, winning the gold medal in the 21 km distance.

The APR athletics club runner made no mistake on Sunday morning as she scooped the women’s half-marathon race at Amahoro National Stadium, clocking 1 hour, 15 minutes and 7 seconds, making her the second female athlete to ever win a gold medal after Salome Nyirarukundo in 2018.

Joel Mwangi Maina won a bronze medal in the men’s half marathon on June 20, 2021. Dan Nsengiyumva

Another Rwandan, Adeline Musabyeyezu came second in the same category after clocking 01:06:28, while Kenya’s Kimitei Edna Jerono (1:19:49) completed the podium on third place to win a bronze.

In the men’s category, Rwanda’s Yves Nimubona finished top of the men half-marathon, claiming a gold medal after posting 01:3:38 to cover 21km, becoming the third Rwandan athlete to claim gold in half marathon.

The first to do so was legendary long-distance runner Dieudonné Disi in 2006, while Noel Hitimana scooped a gold medal in the 2018 half-marathon.

Nimubona, was followed by Kenyan duo of Kimining Shadrack Korir (01:3:48) and Joel Mwangi Maina (01:4:36), who took silver and bronze medals, respectively.

However, the full marathon continues to be a Kenyan affair as Kenyan female long-distance runner Isgah Cheruto clocked 2:51:43 to clinch gold ahead of Ethiopian Melhawi Kesete (2:54:21) and Teweldebrhan Lemlem Eritrea (2:57:10) who won silver and bronze medals in the women’s category, respectively.

In the men’s category, Ethiopia’s Kindle Derseh beat Eritrean Berhane Afewerki Hidru and Meseret Bekebo from Ethiopia, respectively to win gold in the full marathon.

Full marathon winners in both men and women’s categories, walked away with Rwf 3 million, silver medalists got Rwf 2 million, while bronze medalists pocketed Rwf 1.5 million.

In the half marathon, the gold medalist took Rwf 1.5 million, while the first and second runners-up were awarded Rwf 1million and Rwf 800,0000 respectively.

The one-day event was also graced by the Minister of Sports Aurore Mimosa Munyangaju, Minister in charge of Emergency Management M Solange Kayisire, Pudence Rubingisa, the Mayor of City of Kigali among other key guests who participated in the 10 km run for fun category.