Thousands set for Kigali Peace Marathon

More than 2500 athletes from up to 30 countries across the world will take part in the Kigali International Peace Marathon that will start and end at the Amahoro Stadium this morning.

Saturday, May 23, 2015

More than 2500 athletes from up to 30 countries across the world will take part in the Kigali International Peace Marathon that will start and end at the Amahoro Stadium this morning.

According to the Rwanda Athletic Federation (RAF) secretary general Johnson Rukundo, this is a record attendance of athletes at the annual event that has attracted runners from as far as Asia – Japan, Malaysia, China and South Korea as well as from the USA and Europe - Netherlands, Belgium, France, Japan, Sweden, Korea, Turkey, Germany and Luxembourg.

Rwandan long distance runners, Robert Kajuga and Eric Sebahire, will be looking to end the decade-long jinx at the event which has been dominated by Kenyans winning eight of the last 10 editions.

Kajuga, an Olympian who finished 14th in the men’s 10,000m returns to competitive running for the first time since August 2013 when he suffered an Achilles Heel injury, will be hoping to make a mark on his return.

The annual event which is organized to commemorate the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi through peace and reconciliation will have the full marathon of 42km, half marathon of 21km and ‘Run for Fun’ of 5km with all categories starting and ending at Amahoro Stadium.

The 21km run will start from Amahoro stadium via Chez Lando, Gishushu, MTN centre Nyarutarama, Gacuriro village and back to Gishushu, Parliament, Umubano hotel and then turn back to Gishushu, Gisementi, Tigo, University of Rwanda (former KIE), Control Technique, Sports view and back to Amahoro stadium while the 42km will be twice this route.

The Family run which is 5km will start from the Amahoro stadium via Tigo, University of Rwanda (former KIE), Control Technique, Sports view hotel and then back to the stadium.