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Kenyan students top ICWI/JR2R Pink Run
October 28, 2024
The top three male finishers in yesterday's Insurance Company of The West Indies/Jamaica Reach to Recovery (ICWI/JR2R) Pink Run are not just teenagers, but boys from Kenya on scholarship at Kingston College (KC).
Peter Kinyanjui Njuguna, Victor Kagika and Julius Itubo placed first, second and third, respectively, in the race against around 11,o00 participants. They each clocked times under 17 minutes, with 16 minutes and 23 seconds, 16 minutes and 30 seconds and 16 minutes and 31 seconds, respectively.
For 15-year-old Njuguna, copping first place is a feat he set his eyes on last year, but trained for in the last two months since returning to school for the 2024/25 academic year.
"The last time, I come number three, this time, I come number one. I trained to win," Njuguna, who is currently in grade nine at KC, told STAR Sports at Emancipation Park, after the 5K Pink Run event ended.
He said he came to Jamaica on a scholarship to do track and field for KC and was introduced to the scholarship by his coach from his school, Amoni Primary School located in Malaba, Kenya.
"My parents sent me to come to try to be a winner. I want to run," he said.
Njuguna is looking forward to making his name at the ISSA/GraceKennedy Boys' and Girls' Championships in Jamaica.
For his peers, Kagika and Itubo, they too want to make their names known for KC at Champs, and, thus far, all three teenage boys said they are enjoying the tropical paradise of Jamaica.
"It's good. The culture is good. The place is good. It has good weather. The beaches, everything is good," Kagika told STAR Sports.
Itubo added, "I feel good, but God helped me to be here. Jamaica is good. Everything is good in Jamaica."
Sandra Samuels, president, JR2R, breast cancer survivor and one of the key pillars behind the arrangement of the Pink Run, said the turn out was good, not what they hoped for, but her organisation and the breast cancer survivors who the funds will assist are extremely grateful.
"I didn't get to my target of 15,000, but this 11,000 we are happy for," Samuels, a 25-year breast cancer survivor, said.
"Many persons decided to sign up late, so we missed the target because they missed the registration. I want to implore on people to sign up early next year, but my heart is full. I'm so grateful. I'm grateful to everybody who came out. I am ecstatic with how everything looks and feels, and I am very happy," she said.
Samuels implored persons worldwide to assist people suffering from breast cancer. She stated that's the mission of the ICWI/JR2R Pink Run, and noted that those who still want to donate to the cause, could make donations online at pinkrunjm.com or https://www.jareachtorecovery.com/ or call 876-978-0375.
