Kenya to honor athletes next week
(Xinhua)
Updated: 2005-10-22 15:52

The Kenyan government will reward athletes who won medals in three major championships next week.

The athletes will be drawn from the teams that took part in this years' World Championships in Helsinki, World Cross Country Championships held in St.Etienne, France and the World Youth Championships held in Marrakech, Morocco.

Athletics Kenya Secretary General David Okeyo has called upon all athletes who won medals in the three championships to assembly at a local office early Monday from where they will proceed to the ministry of sports headquarters for the function which will be presided over by Minister for Sports Ochillo Ayacko.

Among the athletes to be feted are Augustine Choge, Bernard Kipyego, Barnabas Kosgei, Veronica Nyaruai, Beatrice Chemweno and Alice Timbilil.

Others are Isabella Ochichi, Abrahim Chebii, Isaac Songok, Catherine Ndereba, Benjmain Limo and Ezekiel Kemboi.

Meanwhile, a strong field of 36 women runners led by defending champion Chemokil Chilapong and Delilah Asiago are confirmed for the 42km distance in the Nairobi Standard Chartered Marathon on Sunday.

Chilapong arrived in Nairobi on Wednesday from West Pokot, northeast Kenya and said that her goal will be to improve on last year's time of 2 hours 39 minutes and earn time bonus.

For Asiago she will be hoping it will be third time lucky having failed to win the previous two editions.

About 10,000 runners had by Wednesday registered and in the process matched last year's figure.

This year's Standard Chartered Nairobi Marathon is expected to attract over 15,000 runners in the full marathon, half, and 10km for amateurs and professionals.

There is also a 5km family fun run to raise money for charity.