The starting pistol fires, but for many talented athletes, the race to the finish line is often over before it even begins, not due to a lack of dedication, but a lack of resources. At DBA Africa, we are intensely committed to changing this narrative. We believe that hard work deserves the opportunity to shine on the world stage.

This commitment recently came to life at the prestigious Iten International Marathon, a heavily anticipated event that drew top elite runners from across the region, and as DBA Africa, we believed that this would be yet another great competing opportunity.

A Powerful Partnership: The McCool Family & KMMF

We are incredibly proud and grateful that, thanks to the fundamental and unwavering generosity of the McCool family and the Kevin McCool Memorial Fund (KMMF), we were able to back and enter a total of 10 promising athletes into this event. This crucial support provided these dedicated runners with the opportunity to translate months of rigorous practice into tangible competition.

Our Dedicated Iten Squad

Initially, 11 athletes requested registration for this major event. Unfortunately, Dennis Naibei Ndiwa had to pull out due to injury, we wish him a swift recovery. However, our determined squad of 2 women and 8 men put in immense training and was ready to deliver strong results on race day.

On the same day we also had different athletes taking part in an event in the same region but only the 10KM, this was the TechRun event. For this event we were able to enter athletes who represent the Athletics race fund, a separate programme ran by us.

Representing DBA Africa:

Race Day: Determination and Setbacks

The team kicked off the day with a very early morning, ensuring everyone was well-prepared for the event. After a good warm-up, the athletes awaited their various start times. Two of the 10 participated in the 10KM event, while the remaining eight took on the full marathon (42KM).

Facing the Obstacles

Marathon running is often unpredictable, and unfortunately, two of our athletes were unable to finish the event due to unforeseen circumstances:

• Edith Keino, one of our solid runners in the marathon discipline, suffered a very rough start. She tripped and fell, injuring her knees. Through sheer determination, she cleared 15KMs before her body gave in.
• Joseph Kamau Njuguna in the men's section also suffered an injury, making it too difficult to complete his event.

Despite the setbacks, their effort and courage are highly commendable.

Results Highlights

While securing all official race results proved difficult (as positions were primarily being issued), we can celebrate the tangible results we did receive:

• Victor Kiprono ran the 10KM in a solid time of 31:35, finishing at 65th position.
• Hassan Lokwang Losikiria completed the full marathon in a strong time of 2:35:00.

Looking Ahead: The Next Finish Line

We have received numerous heartfelt calls from the athletes, stressing their deep gratitude for being able to be entered into these events thanks to the KMMF. The opportunity to compete is truly transformative.

However, a key challenge remains: underlying issues not covered by the current fund. Footwear and gear are a significant bone of contention, often separating those who achieve a personal best from those who are merely scraping through. Providing high-quality gear is a crucial next step in maximizing their potential.

The Kevin McCool Memorial Fund support is set to continue with these athletes up until the close of the year. We are already looking forward to an amazing final event hosted in Iten, the Moiben Race. We have secured a total of 20 slots to enter this committed group of athletes and hopefully more, providing them with yet another opportunity to chase their dreams.

Want to help us tackle the gear gap for these incredible athletes? Find out how you can contribute to the future of African running by supporting DBA Africa.