The Baringo Half Marathon is an annual road running event held in Baringo County, Kenya. The race was founded by former World Marathon record holder Paul Tergat as a means to identify and develop athletic talent in his rural home area. The event has also been known under sponsorship names such as the Safaricom Baringo Half Marathon and the Lotto Foundation Baringo Half Marathon.
History and Organization
The race was first held in the early 2000s. The event is organized under the auspices of Athletics Kenya and has been covered by World Athletics (formerly IAAF). The race typically takes place in the Kabarnet area of Baringo County, starting at the Kabartonjo trading centre and following a scenic, hilly route through forested sections before finishing in Kabarnet town. The course has been noted as challenging due to hills, sharp bends, and high altitude.
Course
The route is a point-to-point course with a net elevation drop. According to the Association of Road Racing Statisticians (ARRS), the course has been classified as having a net drop of approximately 11.55 meters per kilometer, and has been noted as potentially short for standard half marathon distance, making it unacceptable for official records or rankings. The race starts near Kabartonjo and ends in Kabarnet.
Notable Editions and Winners
- 2005 (January 9): Mubarak Hassan Shami of Qatar (formerly Kenyan Richard Yatich) won the men's race in 1:01:57. Stanley Kipkosgei was second in 1:02:51.
- 2006 (January 7): Mubarak Hassan Shami successfully defended his title, winning in 1:06:55 on a new, more difficult course. Kipyego Kirui was second in 1:07:16. The women's race was a 10 km event, won by Caroline Kiptoo in 41:25.23.
- 2009 (December 20): Eric Ndiema won the men's race in 1:02:14. Agnes Kiprop successfully defended the women's 15 km race in 51:08.6.
- 2010 (November 7): Robert Kipkorir won the men's race in 1:02:25. Joyce Jepkurui won the women's 15 km race in 50:25.9.
- 2011 (November 6): The women's race was extended to the half marathon distance for the first time. Joyce Jepkurui won the women's race in 1:10:59. Solomon Kiptoo won the men's race in 1:02:23.1.
- 2014 (November 1): Josephat Kiprop won the men's race in 1:01:24.2. Cynthia Cherotich Limo won the women's race in 1:10:06.3.
- 2016 (November 5): Isaac Kipkoech won the men's race in 1:02:51. Edith Chelimo won the women's race in 1:11:02.
- 2021 (January 11): A race was listed on the Athletics Kenya calendar as a road running event.
Significance
The Baringo Half Marathon has attracted elite Kenyan and international athletes, including World Half Marathon medalists and marathon champions. The event has been used by many runners as preparation for major marathons, including the London Marathon. The race has historically offered prize money; for example, the 2014 edition offered a total prize purse of $6,640, with winners receiving $3,320.
