A group of young runners staged an Olympic-style relay during the entertainment segment of the Mashujaa Day celebrations at Kipchoge Keino Stadium in Eldoret, showcasing the North Rift region’s athletics heritage.

The symbolic race featured school pupils dressed in white outfits who took to the stadium field as spectators cheered them on during the national celebrations.

The activity involved groups representing the three counties co-hosting this year’s event: Uasin Gishu, Nandi and Elgeyo-Marakwet.

The relay began with four young runners taking their positions before receiving the familiar starting call, “On your mark, get set, go!”

The children sprinted across the field to loud cheers from the crowd, giving spectators a glimpse of the competitive spirit associated with athletics.

After running several metres, the participants handed over to the next group as the symbolic race continued, drawing cheers from the crowd until the runners reached the finish line.

The relay celebrated Kenya’s sporting talent, particularly in the Rift Valley region, which has produced some of the world’s most accomplished distance runners.

The region has long been associated with Kenya’s success in international athletics, with its athletes earning recognition at major competitions, including the Olympic Games and world championships.

The symbolic race also offered a way of connecting younger generations to that sporting tradition, with schoolchildren taking centre stage during an event dedicated to celebrating the country’s heroes and national achievements.

The relay was among several entertainment activities staged during the celebrations, which also featured performances by school pupils in the middle of the stadium.

Other groups, dressed in bright white outfits, presented coordinated displays that included marching, singing and dancing to cultural songs.

Some pupils arranged themselves into formations bearing words such as “Mashujaa”, while others formed the outline of Kenya’s map on the stadium field.

The performances also included poems themed around the national celebrations, highlighting patriotism, unity and the contributions of Kenyans to the country’s development.

The pupils’ presentations drew cheers from spectators as the entertainment programme showcased the country’s cultural diversity and sporting identity.

The relay, in particular, reflected the importance of nurturing young talent in a region whose athletes have helped put Kenya on the global sporting map.

Mashujaa Day is marked annually on October 20 to honour Kenyans whose sacrifices and contributions have shaped the nation’s history and development.

This year’s celebrations brought the national event to Eldoret, a city closely associated with the country’s athletics success, with Kipchoge Keino Stadium providing the setting for the day’s ceremonies and performances.

The young runners’ relay added a sporting highlight to the entertainment programme.