Cornelius Kipkosgei Konor and Betty Jelangat emerged victorious in the men’s and women’s 10-kilometre races, during the inaugural Absa City Run, Eldoret Edition held on Sunday.

Konor won the men’s category after clocking 30:27.4 in a closely contested race, beating David Korichei, who finished second in 30:34.8, while Mark Kipkoech settled for third position in 30:36.5.

The race, which attracted athletes from across the region, started and ended at Absa Bank’s Eldoret Branch, taking participants through various streets in Eldoret.

Speaking after the race, Konor said he experienced difficulties during the opening lap but gained confidence towards the final stages after realising that his body was responding well.

He said he increased his pace and sprinted towards the finish line to secure the victory.

“The first lap was difficult, but towards the last lap I realised my body was responding well. I decided to sprint and managed to win,” said Konor.

He added that he was using the competition to prepare for the forthcoming Chepsaita Cross Country, where he hopes to improve his speed and overall performance.

In the women’s category, Jelangat emerged the winner in 34:43.7, narrowly beating Leah Jekwemoi, who clocked 34:49.5, while Sharon Kiptugen finished third in 35:50.4.

Jelangat, who disclosed that she was battling a nerve injury in her leg, said she was delighted with the victory, having approached the race without putting herself under pressure.

“I am happy to have won the race. I did not put myself under any pressure; I just ran my race,” she said.

She added that she would take time to recover from the injury before consulting her coach on her next competition.

The event also attracted participants in the 5km and 3km fun run categories, bringing together schoolchildren, families, corporate teams, community groups and fitness enthusiasts.

Speaking during the event, Absa Bank Kenya Marketing and Corporate Affairs Director Mwihaki Wachira, said the race was organised to celebrate the Bank’s 100-year presence in Eldoret, while promoting healthy lifestyles and strengthening community relationships.

Wachira thanked participants for turning up in large numbers, noting that the event provided an opportunity for elite athletes, young people and families to interact through sport.

She said Eldoret had played an important role in the Bank’s growth over the past century, adding that Absa remained committed to supporting the region’s development.

Uasin Gishu County Chief Officer for Youth Affairs, Sports, ICT and Innovation, Robert Kemei, commended the Bank for supporting athletics and providing competitive platforms for both established and emerging athletes.

Kemei said such events contributed to the growth of Kenya’s athletics sector while encouraging healthy lifestyles and strengthening community cohesion.

He urged more corporate institutions to support sporting activities and initiatives that nurture emerging talent.

The inaugural Absa City Run, formed part of the Bank’s centenary celebrations in Kenya, marking 100 years of operations in the country, and concluded a week-long programme of activities across Uasin Gishu County, including community outreach, customer engagements, stakeholder forums and sporting events.

By Fredrick Maritim and Ekuwam Sylvester