500 athletes set for Kigali Half Marathon

TodayKHM (21km) 8am Up to 500 athletics are expected to take part in the first edition of the Kigali Half Marathon, which is scheduled for Sunday morning. The 21km Kigali Half Marathon, organized by the Rwanda Athletic Federation (RAF), is the first race of the season and it will attract athletes from all the nine local clubs across the country, officials have said. The federation is aiming to use race as preparation for the upcoming international races and Kigali International Peace Marathon. Some of big names who have registered for the race include; Jean Marie Vianney Myasiro, Salome Nyirarukundo, James Sugira and Félicien ‘Magare’ Muhitira. On January 13/14, the Rwanda Athletics Federation in collaboration with City of Kigali and Ministry of Sports and Culture, organized a ‘preparatory’ race in Nyamata, Bugesera district aimed at preparing for the Kigali Half Marathon. During that race, 25 athletes (senior men and women as well juniors) were selected from all the 30 districts of Rwanda and will compete alongside athletes from the nine clubs registered by RAF, according to the federation Technical Director, Jean Pierre Ndacyayisenga. RAF will award the top six from the nine clubs and top six from districts. “We expect a very competitive race because of the high number of competitors, who have registered. This event will help us to detect more athletes to represent the country in future continental and international competitions,” said Ndacyayisenga. He added that, “We have selected athletes from all districts and we believe they will the race (Kigali Peace Marathon) as competitive.” “Everything is done and we hope it will be a historic event because all 30 districts have confirmed their participation. We expect the number to increase to over 500 runners because registration is still in progress,” he said on Friday. The race will start at Amahoro National Stadium-Gishushu-RDB Headquarters- MTN Center-Mu Kabuga-Abardeen Hotel-Nyarutarama-Kacyiru-Umubano Hotel-RDB-Controle Technique and back to finish at Amahoro National Stadium. After the race, which will start at 8an at Amahoro National Stadium and finish at 11am, Rwanda Athletic Federation will hold a general assembly in which a new executive committee will elected. editorial@newtimes.co.rw