NAIROBI TO HOST FINAL WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS MARATHON AS KENYA EYES HISTORIC 2029 SEND-OFF

Kenya is preparing to give the marathon a special send-off when Nairobi hosts the 2029 World Athletics Championships, with bid committee chairman Ibrahim Hussein envisioning a course that will showcase the capital’s landmarks while providing a serious test for the world’s best distance runners. 

Nairobi was officially selected by World Athletics to host the 2029 championships, marking the first time the global outdoor athletics championships will be held in Africa. The event is scheduled for September 2029. 

For Hussein, the marathon carries additional significance. World Athletics has announced that the 2029 edition will be the last time the marathon forms part of the World Athletics Championships. From 2030, the marathon will have its own standalone World Athletics Marathon Championships, while from 2031 road-running events will no longer be part of the main championships. 

Hussein, who led Kenya's successful bid, said the impending change was among the reasons Kenya eventually prioritised the 2029 edition after initially seeking to host either 2029 or 2031. He said staging the marathon at home would give Kenyan athletes and fans an opportunity to experience the championship race on Kenyan soil. 

A course designed to showcase Nairobi
Hussein, who is certified by World Athletics to measure track and road-race courses, hopes the marathon route will highlight Nairobi's beauty and historical sites.

The 42-kilometre course will have to balance the city's terrain with the demands of elite competition. Nairobi sits at an altitude of approximately 1,795 metres, and Hussein noted that an overly hilly course could place excessive demands on athletes, while a completely flat route might fail to provide an adequate competitive challenge. 

The race will also require extensive logistical preparations, including road closures, medical support, hydration and feeding stations, anti-doping controls and official course measurement.

The Nairobi marathon will take place against the backdrop of Kenya's long history of success in the event.
According to Daily Nation, Kenya has collected 23 marathon medals at the World Athletics Championships, comprising 11 gold, seven silver and five bronze medals.

 Douglas Wakiihuri became the first Kenyan man to win the world championships marathon in 1987, while Catherine Ndereba became the first Kenyan woman to claim the title in 2003. 

Hussein also sees the 2029 championships as an opportunity to give Kenyan technical officials practical experience in managing a major global competition.
With Nairobi's hosting rights now secured, preparations are expected to begin well ahead of the championships.

 World Athletics says the event will build on Nairobi's previous experience hosting major international competitions, including the 2017 World U18 Championships and the 2021 World U20 Championships. 

The 2029 marathon could therefore represent more than another championship race for Kenya: it will be the country's chance to stage the marathon at the World Athletics Championships for the final time before the discipline moves to its own global championship format.