Over 50 foreign athletes for Kampala International Marathon

KAMPALA, Dec. 5 (Xinhua) -- Over 50 foreign athletes are set to compete in the MTN Kampala International Marathon due on Sunday.

According to Uganda Athletics Federation secretary Beatrice Ayikoru, defending champions Isaiah Kosgei of Kenya, taking part in his fourth race, will lead 30 Kenyan men distance runners in the 42km race.

Kenya will also have 14 women athletes, including Rispa Mayo, Eunice Kemei and Chemtai Recking.

"This shows that the marathon has a growing interest. That is why we are receiving such big entries from foreign elite runners,"said Ayikoru.

She added that Tanzania had also entered three runners, including Rebecca Kagana and Frola Kagali, while Rwanda is to field 12 runners.

MTN promotions and marketing manager Aggrey Kagonyera has disclosed at a press briefing on Tuesday that entries had reached 6468, including 87 corporate teams of five runners each.

Kagonyera said the entries have registered the highest ever record, which is thrice the number of participants in the 2004 inaugural event.

About traffic control in the city, Kagonyera said arrangements had been made with the police to make sure runners go about their business safely.

"Full marathoners are to run along Jinja Road towards Kireka for about 25 minutes. Police will issue statements in the course of the week but I believe that alternative routes have been demarcated for motorists incase the highway is closed," Kagonyera noted.

Meanwhile, the starting and finishing point is set at Engen Fuel Station near Shoprite mall while the Lugogo Cricket Oval has been demarcated as a recovery area for athletes.

The event, which marks the end of the local athletics calendar, has always been held in November. The UAF postponed the event by three weeks to give way to the just-concluded Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in November.

The marathon, which has the 10km open, corporate challenge, wheelchair race, 42km and the newly introduced 21km categories, is organized to raise funds for expectant mothers living in Internally Displaced Peoples (IDP) camps in Northern Uganda.