AT unveils runners for world championship

Tanzania runner, Emmanuel Giniki (center) competes in a past athletics event. Giniki is among 16 runners who will represent the country in the World Cross Country event in Denmark. PHOTO | FILE

Dar es Salaam. Sixteen runners will compete in the World Cross Country Championships slated for Arusha, Denmark, on March 30.

Speaking with The Citizen yesterday, Athletics Tanzania (AT) secretary general Wilhelm Gidabuday named the runners as Marko Monko, Joseph Panga, Faraja Damas, Emmanuel Giniki, Gabriel Geay, Yohana Elisante and Francis Damiano. They will compete in the men’s race.

Women runners, according to Gidabuday, are Failuna Katanga, Magdalena Shauri, Angelina Tsere, Sisilia Ginoka, Mayselina Mbua, Amina Mgoo, Anastazia Dolomongo, Aisha Magelani and Natalia Elisante.

The team, also comprising trainers Meta Petro, Madai Jambau and matron Marcelina Gwandu, will be led by Hamad Ndee.

He said the plan was to field 22 runners at the event, but failure to secure passports led to the expulsion of six of them.

The Athletics Tanzania secretary general said they worked hard to ensure that the six runners travel to Denmark, but their efforts hit a snag. He exuded hopes that the 16 players have all it takes to win medals at the world event.