By Editor
Defending champion Mercy Kwambai and first-time winner Samson Lemayan dominated the 42km races at the 25th Lewa Safari Marathon, held Saturday at Lewa Conservancy in Meru County.
Kwambai, 36, clocked 2:47:17 to retain her women’s title, finishing ahead of Evaline Lagat (3:02:31) and Monica Watetu (3:20:21).
The mother of two credited her victory to intense preparation. “The course was hot and hilly, but my training paid off,” said Kwambai, now a two-time champion.
“This race sharpens me for other competitions, and I love its impact on conservation.”
In the men’s race, Samson Lemayan surged to victory in 2:28:35, outpacing John Musee (2:29:18) and Joseph Kariuki (2:29:36).
“I struggled here in 2018, but today’s win feels incredible,”said the Maralal athlete. “The marathon’s growth inspires me.”
In the recent shorter races, Michael Kamau triumphed in the 21km Men’s category with a time of 1:06:37, narrowly defeating Justine Lelitan, who finished in 1:07:48, and Simon Saidimu, who clocked in at 1:08:07. In the 21km Women’s race, Mary Waithera showcased her dominance with a winning time of 1:18:27, leaving Pauline Ngigi and Susan Wanjiru to settle for second and third place with times of 1:28:21 and 1:29:04, respectively.
Meanwhile, in the 10km Corporate Challenge, Reuben Ng’ang’a and Sara Van Der Laan emerged victorious in their respective categories.
Big Prizes, Bigger Impact
Winners in the 42km and 21km races took home KES 150,000, with runners-up earning KES 80,000 and KES 60,000.
Safaricom CEO Dr. Peter Ndegwa hailed the event’s legacy, “For 25 years, this marathon has protected wildlife and uplifted communities. We’re honored to support it.”
Lewa Conservancy CEO Mike Watson praised participants, “You’ve pushed limits while safeguarding Kenya’s wildlife. Your efforts matter globally.”
Conservation in Focus
With 1,400+ runners this year, the marathon has raised over $9 million for conservation since 2000.
Sponsors like Safaricom, Huawei, and Access Bank backed the 2025 edition, reinforcing its role in preserving northern Kenya’s ecosystems.
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