Mbeya Tulia Marathon starts today, featuring 5,000 runners

Dar es Salaam. The seventh edition of the Betika Mbeya Tulia Marathon starts today for track and field events at the Sokoine Stadium in Mbeya Region.

Speaking to The Citizen yesterday, Tulia Trust Foundation Information officer Joshua Edward said all preparations are complete and athletes will compete in 100, 200, 400, 800, and 1,500 metres races.

Five, 10 and 21 kilometres races will be held tomorrow in the climax of the event at which Prime Minister Kassaim Majaliwa will be the guest of honour.

Prime Minister Majaliwa will feature in the five kilometres race along with Parliament Speaker Tulia Ackson, Arts, Culture, Sports minister Damas Ndumbaro, the latter’s Deputy, Hamis Mwinjuma (Mwana FA) and some Members of Parliament.

Edward said the event is also expected to feature runners from various regions in the Tanzania Mainland including Mbeya’s 420 runners sponsored by a betting firm, Betika.

Famous runners will also compete in the event including  Sarah Ramadhan, who was among the athletes selected to form the national team ahead of searching for the Olympic Games qualifying marks.

Apart from Ramadhan, also on the list are Siwema Julius, a national team runner, who will compete in the 800 metres and Angel John who will feature in the marathon and Hamis Misai, who was placed eighth in the marathon of the Commonwealth Games held in Birmingham, the United Kingdom in 2022.

Misai, who was competing for the first time in the Commonwealth Games, recorded his personal best time of 2:15:59.

He explained that the special race is aimed at raising funds to improve healthcare and education infrastructure in Mbeya Region.

For his part, Betika Public Relations Officer Rugambwa Juvenalius expressed that they are proud to be part of the development of sports in the country.

“We are true stakeholders of sports in the country and we believe the event will be used by some up-and-coming runners to showcase their talents and scouted by for the benefit of the nation in the future,” said Juvenalius.

Juvenalius also called upon athletics stakeholder to turn up at the Sokoine Stadium to witness the event that is expected to take Mbeya Region as well as other Southern Highland regions by storm.

He said the top 10 finishers in the marathon, for both men and women, will receive cash prizes.