Kenyan ace Mutai (right) was pursued in vain in the 42km event yesterday

By Norman Katende and Swalley Kenyi

David Mutai outsprinted his counterpart Naibei Rutto in the final 100 metres as Kenya regained the MTN Kampala International Marathon title yesterday.

Both Kenyans were timed at 2:18:31 with only microseconds separating the winner who picked a sh5m cheque and the runner up who settled for sh2.6m

The best Ugandan was Charles Mutwoi with defending champion Francis Musani finishing in fifth position

“It was a tough race, we were running into crowds but it is great that I won. The last hill was also tough,” said Mutai after the race.

Kenyan Jane Wandahi took the women’s 42km title after leading all the way with defending champion Jane Suuto finishing seventh.

In the half marathon, last year’s winner Isaac Kiprop settled for second place as he was beaten by Tanzanian Faustin Musa to the men’s title in the 21km race by about 10 seconds.

Over 17,000 runners took part in the sixth edition of the annual event that started and ended at Kololo Airstrip. The increased entry also marked a huge increase in the number of injury casualties.

Medical personal said that while last year 400 received first aid, up to 3000 people found themselves in the sick bay this year –– 400 of them unconscious on stretchers.

“I discoverd that one of the men we treated had taken a lot of alcohol the previous night and his case was serious, so we had to take him for further management in hospital,” said Dr. Kalibala Sendi from Mengo hospital, who led the team of 400 Red Cross volunteers.

The Red Cross was adequately prepared for increased numbers of participants and raised their volunteer team from 250 to 400 backed up by 15 ambulances, three more than last year.