This archive report was first published on 16 November 2019.
On November 16, 2019, the ninth edition of the Maasai Mara Marathon was set to take place in the wilderness of Masai Mara Game Reserve. The event aimed to raise funds for conservation and community-based projects in the area.
Organisers had initially expected a smaller turnout, but by the day before the event, 500 athletes had registered for the two categories of the race: the 21km main event and the 5km corporate challenge.
According to John Konchella, the race director, the high number of participants had caught them off guard. 'The entry has even surprised us as we try to tie up some loose ends ahead of the D-Day this morning for us to be able to adhere to Athletics Kenya (AK) guidelines and World Athletics rules and have the winners vetted before they receive their prizes,' Konchella told Standard Sports.
The Cabinet Secretary for Sports, Amina Mohamed, and her Environment and Natural Resources counterpart, Keriako Tobiko, were expected to flag off the main race. The event also included a tree planting ceremony at Maswani Primary School, sponsored by various organisations, including the Ministry of Tourism and East Africa Breweries.
Winners of the marathon would be required to undergo Anti-Doping tests before receiving their prizes.
