IAAF chief to grace Kigali international marathon

THE International Amateur Athletics Federation (IAAF) boss Lamine Diack will be the chief guest at the 9th edition of the Kigali International Peace marathon which will be held on May 19th.The Rwanda Athletics Federation General Secretary Johnson Rukundo confirmed the development to Times Sport yesterday.“He has accepted our request to be in Kigali on the day of the Kigali International Marathon,” Rukundo said.“We will also use the opportunity to present to him some of our proposals that we need his support which include the athletes centre to be constructed in Rulindo as well as hosting some IAAF competitions in 2016 when the new stadium in Gahanga will be operational,” added Rukundo.The former long jumper became the president of the International Association of Athletics Federations in November, 1999, and was re-elected for another four-year term on 16th October 2011.The Kigali International Peace marathon will be organised in conjunction with the Ministry of Sports and Culture alongside Soroptimist international. The annual marathon will cover a total of 41,195 km and it will involve a country-wide tour of the peace torch.The peace torch relay will cover all four provinces and Kigali City, “the peace torch relays will jumpstart the marathon. The event is expected to attract a record 5000 participants from across the world. The marathon was initiated in 2005; athletes from Rwanda, Kenya, Ethiopia, South Sudan, Eritrea, Djibouti, and other continents will take part.Last year Kenyans dominated the tournament. Paul Kosjei won after clocking 2h, 14minutes and 56 seconds to walk home with 2500$, while Eliud Magut an Willy Korir followed respectively.