Ndaragwa: The inaugural Murichu Dam cross-country race attracted over 500 young athletes in Ndaragwa, Nyandarua County, marking a significant step in talent development and environmental conservation.
According to Kenya News Agency, the event was exclusively open to runners under 16 years old, aiming to nurture future athletic champions while raising awareness about preserving the Murichu dam, a crucial water tower in Ndaragwa Sub County. The event was hailed as a beacon of hope for the Mt. Kenya region, which has been striving to reclaim its past athletic glory. Central Athletics Kenya (AK) Vice Chairman Erastus Kabugi stated that the race could be the breakthrough the region has been waiting for.
‘For a long time, our region has been criticised for its poor performance in athletics. Efforts to revive the sport in schools have been met with challenges, especially due to a lack of enthusiasm. However, this race provides a fresh solution and I hope it will be replicated in other parts of the region,’ said Kabugi.
Nyandarua AK Secretary Lawrence Miano confirmed that 550 athletes braved the hot weather for the race. The event, organised by former Nairobi AK Treasurer Pak Kariuki in collaboration with AK Nyandarua, received sponsorship from Ngong-based marathon runner Isaac Macharia through his companies and Posso Sports.
Kariuki expressed his commitment to making the event an annual fixture, expanding it to include under-20 athletes in the future. ‘This race is not just about competition but also about discovering and nurturing young talent. We have seen great potential today, and I have no doubt that some of these runners will be representing Kenya on the global stage in the coming years,’ he said.
The competition featured various age categories, with distances ranging from 500 meters to 4 kilometres. In the youngest category (4-6 years), Hope John won the boys’ 500m race in 3:00, while Maryliter Wangari claimed victory in the girls’ event. For the 7-9 age group, the 1 km race saw Mary Muthoni triumph in 4:31 minutes, while Peter Kuria clinched the boys’ title in 4:20 minutes.
David Wahome emerged victorious in the 2 km race for 10-12-year-old boys, clocking 7:47 minutes, while Frida Esikon took the girls’ title in 8:11 minutes. The 13-15 age category, covering 4 km, produced thrilling finishes. Lydia Wambui led the girls’ race in 17:10 minutes, followed by Cecilia Nyambura (18:07 minutes) and Ruth Njeri (18:39 minutes). On the boys’ side, Paul Kamau won in 15:01 minutes, with David Mwangi (15:06 minutes) and James Kariuki (15:47 minutes) coming second and third, respectively.
The event also included a special 500-meter race for senior citizens aged 60 years and above for men and 55 years and above for women, proving that age is just a number. Peter Kinyanjui clocked 2:20 minutes to win the men’s race, edging out Stephen Muritu (2:21 minutes) and Ebrahim Njoroge (2:22 minutes). In the women’s category, Jane Wanjugu emerged victorious in 2:58 minutes, with Gladys Wambui (3:00 minutes) and Lilian Nduta (3:18 minutes) following closely behind.
The top ten finishers in each race walked away with cash prizes, further motivating the young athletes to pursue their sporting dreams. With the promise of an annual competition, the Murichu Dam cross-country race is poised to become a key event in Kenya’s athletic calendar, offering a platform for young talent to shine while reinforcing the importance of environmental conservation.