Nyahururu, Laikipia County, the fifth edition of the Annual Saba Time Race saw Michael Manela clinching a significant win in the 10km men’s race. Manela completed the race in 29 minutes and 18 seconds, marking his first major victory since moving to the senior level two years ago. In the women’s 5km race, Mary Nyaruai emerged victorious with a time of 15 minutes and 48 seconds, a considerable advancement from her previous sixth place.
According to Kenya News Agency, Manela successfully navigated the challenging muddy sections and rough terrain of the Murram route, outperforming several seasoned athletes, including Japan-based runners who participated in the event as part of their acclimatization following their return from holiday. Despite his victory, Manela acknowledged the difficulty posed by the route’s protruding pebbles, which he cited as a factor in his inability to break the course record of 28 minutes and 36 seconds.
Manela expressed his surprise at winning against a field that included many prominent marathon stars, especially those from Japan. Francis Abong, who finished just three seconds behind Manela, noted the need to improve his finishing kick, which he felt cost him the race. The event saw close finishes, with Wilson Lemangale and Joash Ruto securing third and fourth positions with times of 29 minutes and 22 seconds and 29 minutes and 27 seconds, respectively.
In the women’s category, Nyaruai pulled ahead of Yvonne Chepchirchir in the last 50 meters, with Chepchirchir finishing just two seconds behind. Their impressive performances placed them alongside last year’s winner, Judy Chepng’etich, as the few women who have completed the 5km distance in under 16 minutes. Joyce Njeru and Lucy Nduta rounded out the top finishers in the women’s race.
The event also highlighted the financial support provided by Korean businessman Jang Young Ki, who rewarded the top 30 finishers in the men’s category and the top 20 in the women’s category with a monetary token. The race route, located in the Siron villages of Marmanet location in Laikipia County, holds a significant place in athletics history, as it was used by John Ngugi for his training en route to winning the World Cross Country title five times between 1986 and 1989.