By Baraka Simba 
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 claimed the men’s title after clocking 30:27.4 in a closely contested race that brought together athletes from across the region.
He edged out David Korichei, who finished second in 30:34.8, while Mark Kipkoech secured third place after crossing the finish line in 30:36.5.
The race started and ended at Absa Bank’s Eldoret Branch, taking participants through several streets in the City of Eldoret.
Speaking after his victory, Konor revealed that he had struggled during the opening lap but gradually gained confidence after realising that his body was responding well.
He said he increased his pace towards the closing stages before launching a decisive sprint to secure the win.
“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.
The athlete added that he was using the competition to sharpen his speed and build momentum ahead of the forthcoming Chepsaita Cross Country Championships.
In the women’s 10km category, Jelangat emerged victorious in 34:43.7, narrowly beating Leah Jekwemoi, who clocked 34:49.5 to finish second.
Sharon Kiptugen completed the podium after recording 35:50.4.
Jelangat expressed satisfaction with her performance, revealing that she had competed while managing a nerve injury in her leg.
“I am happy to have won the race. I did not put myself under any pressure; I just ran my race,” she said.
She indicated that she would take time to recover from the injury before consulting her coach on her next competition.
Beyond the competitive races, the event also featured 5km and 3km fun runs, attracting 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 Eldoret edition was organised as part of the bank’s centenary celebrations, marking 100 years of its presence in the region.
Wachira said the initiative sought to promote healthy lifestyles, strengthen community relationships and provide an opportunity for elite athletes and ordinary residents to interact through sport.
She thanked participants for turning out in large numbers, noting that Eldoret had played a significant role in the bank’s growth over the past century.
She reaffirmed Absa’s commitment to supporting the region’s development through initiatives that promote community engagement and economic growth.
Uasin Gishu County Chief Officer for Youth Affairs, Sports, ICT and Innovation Robert Kemei commended the bank for supporting athletics and creating competitive opportunities for both established and emerging athletes.
Kemei observed that corporate-sponsored sporting events play an important role in nurturing talent, strengthening Kenya’s athletics sector and encouraging communities to embrace healthy lifestyles.
He challenged more corporate institutions to invest in sports development and programmes that provide young athletes with opportunities to showcase their abilities.
The inaugural Absa City Run, Eldoret Edition, formed part of the bank’s celebrations marking 100 years of operations in Kenya.
The event also brought to a close a week-long programme of centenary activities across Uasin Gishu County, which included community outreach initiatives, customer engagements, stakeholder forums and sporting events.
Robert Mutasi