Fastest blind runner to join Nairobi Marathon

The world's fastest visually challenged woman marathoner, Regina Vollbrecht, will participate in the Nairobi marathon.

The world's fastest visually challenged woman marathoner, Regina Vollbrecht, is geared up for the Standard Chartered Nairobi marathon to be held in Nairobi next week.

HT Image

The 40-year-old Germany-born athlete will join thousands of Kenyans for the race slated Oct 28. Also a visually challenged male runner, Henry Wanyoike, will run 10 km in the same race, while Vollbrecht will take part in the full marathon, reported Xinhua.

The Standard Chartered Greatest Race on Earth (GROE) is a four-leg team relay across Nairobi, Singapore, Bombay and Hong Kong with four distinct, yet all very challenging marathons.

"We are privileged to have Regina Vollbrecht to be part of this year's marathon. The event will be a star-studded one," Geoffrey Githinji, chairman to the Nairobi Marathon National Steering Committee, told journalists in Nairobi on Friday.

"Both Regina and Wanyoike are record holders in their respective categories and we call upon all Kenyans to join these two and be part of this great event," he added.

Vollbrecht holds the award for world best for female visually challenged runners. She set the mark earlier this year in Hamburg. Vollbrecht is also a German Triathlon champion for the physically challenged.

"I'm glad to be running in Nairobi for the first time. I'm excited to be taking part in the marathon and more so to know that this great event is for a good cause," said Vollbrecht.

"The event will encourage thousands of visually impaired children and adults in Kenya," she added.