Luanda - Kenya with 32 runners will have the biggest representation in the second edition of the International Peace Half Marathon to be held on April 4, in Luanda, the organisers said Wednesday.
According to the race director, Adriano Nunes, among the Kenyan representatives there are 22 men and nine women to take part in the race that is to have a 21.0975 kilometre-route.
Ethiopia comes next with 11 athletes (three males and eight females), Uganda with five runners (men), plus Bahrain, Brazil, Bolivia, Uruguay, Morocco, South Africa and Namibia with one athlete each, making a total of 55 foreigners.
The registrations for foreign representatives in the race started on Wednesday.
The organisers also announced that 400 national athletes of the 3,000 expected are already confirmed, while the registration process ends on March 15.
The second meeting with the journalists also served for the organisers to sign a protocol with the sponsoring companies.
The race – with a budget of 54 million kwanzas- will also maintain the same course of 21.0975 km as in the previous edition. Starting in front of the Port of Luanda and ending at António Agostinho Neto Avenue (in front of the Mausoleum).
The organisers reserve prizes in US dollars for the elite athletes, in both men and women categories.
Individual competitors and disabled athletes (paralympics) will be awarded 200 000, 150 000 and 100 000 Kwanzas, respectively, while veteran racers will be awarded 150 000 kwanzas.
According to the organising committee, an additional bonus of 1,000 US dollars will be offered to the athlete who breaks the 2022 race record which is 1.03.17, for men, and 1.11.52 for women.
In the past edition of the Peace Half Marathon, the first place in men's category was taken by the Kenyan runner Isaac Chebuyo with a time of 1.3.17, followed by his compatriots Leonard Langat (1.03.20) and Albert Kangogo(1.03.28).
In women's, Ethiopia's Yalemget Mekuriyaw triumphed, clocking 1.11.52, seconded by Violah Motosio (1.13.25) and Damaris Mutua (1.14.39), both from Bahrain.
