Kigali marathon for May 19

Winners’ Prize moneyFull Marathon: Top six Rwf1.6mRwf1.2mRwf1mRwf0.8mRwf0.6mRwf0.4mHalf Marathon: Top sixRwf1mRwf0.7mRwf0.6mRwf0.5mRwf0.4mRwf0.3mRegistration for this year’s Kigali Peace Marathon began on Monday at the Rwanda Athletics Federation headquarters in Remera.However, according to the federation’s Secretary General Johnson Rukundo, the registration turn-up for the ninth edition remains low, especially with local runners.“The official registration started on Monday but the problem thus far is the low turn-up of Rwandan participants. I don’t know whether they will register in the final week or the last minute; nonetheless we shall give them more time to register,” Rukundo told Times Sport on Thursday.“Athletes from Kenya and Uganda have shown interest in big numbers,” he said, noting that most people tend to register as the deadline looms. This event is due on May 19.Kenya, which has traditionally dominated the competition, is expected to send up to 60 athletes, while Rwanda will be represented by 40 elite runners. So far, only 50 runners from outside Africa have registered.This year, 5000 runners are expected to compete in the 21km and 42km categories. For the first time since the race was organised in 2005, the budget has more than doubled to Rwf120m. The Ministry of Sports and Culture, which has traditionally been the main sponsor of the race, will contribute Rwf35m, with the rest coming from other sponsors.The winner of the full marathon will walk away with US$3000, while the silver and bronze medalists will receive US$2500 and US$1500, respectively.The president of the International Amateur Athletics Federation, Lamine Diack, is expected to grace the event.That will come as a relief for the athletics federation, because last year, the IAAF refused to give them the annual US$ 15,000 grant, which is normally given to national federations around the world to organize competitions. The marathon will attract athletes from Kenya, Ethiopia, South Sudan, Eritrea, Djibouti, Rwanda and other parts of the world.Kenya’s Paul Kosjei won the full marathon last year after clocking 2hrs, 14 minutes and 56 seconds, while Eliud Magut and Willy Korir followed in second and third positions respectively.Rwanda’s Robert Kajuga clinched bronze in the half marathon last year to become the only Rwandan to get onto the podium in the four categories.Tanzanian Joan Fabiora also won bronze in the women full marathon.