John Lomoni on his way to victory on Sunday 1st December during the EldoHub TechRun 10km roadd race . photo Geoffrey Chemisto
John Lomon and Christine Njoki emerged as the inaugural EldoHub TechRun 10km champions. The race, held on Sunday, December 1st, in Eldoret, Kenya’s famed “City of Champions,” seamlessly combined the excitement of athletics with the transformative power of technology.
The event unfolded under near-perfect weather conditions: a cool 12°C, 100% humidity, and a light breeze of 8 km/h, creating an ideal setting for competitive excellence. Lomon, representing North Rift, clinched the men’s 10km title with an impressive time of 29 minutes,19.9 seconds.
Reflecting on his victory, Lomon, fresh from winning the Athletics Kenya Third Cross Country Series, said:
“I’m fresh from an injury, but I was well-prepared for this race. Winning today shows there are good things ahead for me. I look forward to January when KipRun management has plans for me to race in France.”
The men’s race saw stiff competition, with Bernard Lang’at (South Rift) securing second place in 29:34.4 and Cornelius Kemboi (North Rift) finishing third in 29:47.9. Lang’at, who trains in Keringet, Nakuru County, commended the event’s digital innovation:
“I enjoyed the race. I’ll return to training as I prepare for a possible upcoming race. The use of technology was impressive; we registered online, and despite arriving late, the digital process made everything seamless.”
Christine Njoki on her way to victory on Sunday 1st December during the EldoHub TechRun 10km roadd race . photo Geoffrey Chemisto
In the women’s 10km race, Christine Njoki delivered a stellar performance, claiming victory in 32:35.3. Fresh off her win at the Iten 10km race the previous week, Njoki expressed her delight:
“I am thrilled with my second victory. Competing here was crucial to maintaining my form as I prepare for a race in Europe this January.”
Maureen Toroitich (South Rift) finished second in 32:53.3 and reflected on the challenges of the course:
“Hard work and training helped me a lot. Moving forward, I’ll focus more on slopes and hill work. Today’s course wasn’t bad, but I struggled with the slopes.”
Bronze medalist Christine Chesiro (North Rift) clocked 33:02.2, while veteran Christine Metto highlighted her focus on international competitions:
“I am preparing to run in Valencia this January. Earlier this year, I won the Lille race in France. Today’s race in Eldoret was tough, but I gave it my best.”
Beyond the competition, the EldoHub TechRun highlighted the intersection of sports and technology. Uasin Gishu County Governor Jonathan Bii emphasized the importance of innovation:
“We need to embrace technology and innovation in all aspects of life. By applying technology to running, we can achieve better results, explore new opportunities, and drive future investments.”
Dr. Eric Ruto, Chairman of the Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry, echoed this sentiment. He highlighted the economic potential of sports and encouraged athletes to explore business opportunities:
“Athletes should consider investing in the sports business, such as manufacturing affordable running kits and apparel for global markets.”
