Regional stars to grace Uganda's MTN International marathon

Star athletes from the East African region are to grace the 2015 MTN International Marathon in Uganda.

   Many of them, mainly from neighboring Kenya, intend to use the annual event which is held in the capital Kampala for training purposes.

   "It will also be a good event for practice purposes and also to gauge my current form," 21-year old Solomon Mutai told Xinhua on Wednesday.

   The event is schedule to kick off in Nov. 22, and will attract top foreign athletes from Kenya, Rwanda and Tanzania.

   Beatrice Ayikoru, secretary of the Uganda Athletics Federation (UAF) told Xinhua that they are hoping that other top Ugandan runners like double Commonwealth Games gold medalist Moses Kipsiro and Olympic Games gold medalist Stephen Kiprotich also take part to spice up the competition.

   Athletes from Kenya like Titus Tuwei who finished fifth in the 42km race last year together with Zeddy Limo Jerop who won the women's 21km race have already entered the event.

   Last year Uganda's Alex Chesakit and Carolyne Migadde won the 42km races for the men and women respectively.

   The UAF president Dominic Otuchet said they will also use the marathon to select athletes who will represent Uganda in the 2016 IAAF World Half Marathon Championships to take place in Britain in March.

   Over the last 12 years, 140,000 entrants have participated in the annual marathon and raised money to help people in less-privileged communities.  Endi