The Baringo Half Marathon is an annual road running competition for men and women over the half marathon distance which takes place every December in Baringo, Kenya. The programme previously had a 15 kilometres race for women, but this was extended to a half marathon in 2011.[1]

Baringo Half Marathon
The race takes place near Kenya's Lake Baringo
DateDecember
LocationBaringo, Kenya
Event typeRoad
DistanceHalf marathon
Established2001

The race was established in 2001 by Paul Tergat, a former marathon world record holder, who was born in the local area.[2] Tergat hoped that the race would unearth and nurture high quality runners in the area.[1] It tends to attract around 500 (mostly Kenyan) runners, among them a number of world-class road racing athletes.[3][4]

The course of the road race features many curves and multiple uphill and downhill sections.[5] Mubarak Hassan Shami became the first runner to defend the title,[3] and Agnes Kiprop became the first woman to win the competition twice consecutively. The race received greater commercial support in 2009, attracting sponsorship deals with Safaricom and the National Social Security Fund.[6] Around 300 runners took part in the 2010 men's half marathon race.[7]

The men's event was changed to a 20 kilometres road race in 2006 and 2007,[8][9] but it returned to its original half marathon format in 2008 with the 20 km races not considered to be within the editions of the race.[10]

Past winners

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The 2007 women's winner, Peninah Arusei

Key:   20 km men's course   10 km women's course   15K women's course

Edition Year Men's half marathon winner Time (h:m:s) Women's 15 km winner Time (h:m:s)
1st 2001 ? ? ? ?
2nd 2002[11]   Yusuf Songoka (KEN) 1:00:54   Irene Kosgei (KEN) 54:07
2003 Did not held
3rd 2004   James Yatich (KEN) ? ? ?
4th 2005   Mubarak Hassan Shami (QAT) 1:01.57   Irene Kosgei (KEN) 52:49
5th 2006   Mubarak Hassan Shami (QAT) 1:06.55   Caroline Kiptoo (KEN) 41:25.23
6th 2006   David Murkomen (KEN) 57:28   Joan Aiyabei (KEN) 50:08
7th 2007   Moses Kigen (KEN) 56:14   Peninah Arusei (KEN) 50:52
8th 2008   Vincent Loritam (KEN) 1:02:06.4   Agnes Kiprop (KEN) 50:55
9th 2009   Eric Ndiema (KEN) 1:02:13.8   Agnes Kiprop (KEN) 51:08.6
10th 2010   Robert Kipkorir (KEN) 1:02:25   Joyce Chepkirui (KEN) 50:25.9
11th 2011   Solomon Kiptoo (KEN) 1:02:23.1   Joyce Chepkirui (KEN) 1:10:57.1
12th 2012   Hosea Nailel (KEN) 1:02:32.5   Flomena Cheyech (KEN) 1:01:15.3
13th 2013[12]   Kenneth Kimeng'wa (KEN) 1:03:52   Agnes Kiprop (KEN) 1:13:43
14th 2014[13]   Josephat Kiprop (KEN) 1:01:24   Cynthia Limo (KEN) 1:10:06
2015 Did not held, only 10km race held.
15th 2016   Isaac Langat (KEN) 1:02:51   Edith Chelimo (KEN) 1:11:02
16th 2017   Isaac Langat (KEN) 1:01:47   Lucy Cheruiyot (KEN) 1:12:19

References

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  1. ^ a b Macharia, David (2011-11-06). Jepkurui dominated Baringo Half Marathon. IAAF. Retrieved on 2011-11-07.
  2. ^ Kenyan New Year road races provide few surprises. IAAF (2004-01-05). Retrieved on 2009-12-23.
  3. ^ a b Macharia, David (2006-01-07). Shami defends Baringo Half Marathon title. IAAF. Retrieved on 2009-12-22.
  4. ^ 500 athletes at Baringo marathon. Kenya Broadcasting Corporation (2007-01-07). Retrieved 2009-12-22.
  5. ^ Macharia, David (2005-01-10). Shami remains in good form. IAAF. Retrieved on 2009-12-22.
  6. ^ Macharia, David (2009-12-20). Teenager Ndiema surprises with Baringo Half Marathon victory. IAAF. Retrieved on 2009-12-22.
  7. ^ Macharia, David (2010-11-07). Kipkorir surprises to take victory at Baringo Half-Marathon. IAAF. Retrieved on 2010-11-07.
  8. ^ Macharia, David (2006-12-09). Last two uphill kilometres decisive for Kemboi in Baringo. IAAF. Retrieved on 2009-12-22.
  9. ^ Macharia, David (2007-11-10). Kigen runs 56:14 for 20km in Kabarnet. IAAF. Retrieved on 2009-12-22.
  10. ^ Macharia, David (2008-12-06). Loritam and Kiprop take Baringo road race titles. IAAF. Retrieved on 2009-12-22.
  11. ^ Songok Wins Baringo Half Marathon. Africa News Service (2002-01-02). Retrieved on 2011-11-07.
  12. ^ Magut, Stanley (2013-11-04). Kenya: Kimeng'wa and Kiprop Top Baringo Half Marathon. All Africa News. Retrieved on 2015-01-05.
  13. ^ Otieno, Derek (2014-11-02). Kiprop records first ever win at Baringo Half Marathon Archived November 11, 2014, at the Wayback Machine. People Daily Kenya. Retrieved on 2015-01-05.