Tanzania top runner Geay competes in Boston Marathon 

Dar es Salaam. Tanzania’s top long distance runner, Gabriel Geay, on April 15, 2024 competes in this year’s Boston Marathon in the United States.
In the race to feature other top runners in the world, Geay is the only Tanzanian athlete who has been invited.

Geay trained intensively ahead of the race scheduled to start from Eastern Massachusetts to Boston.

“It is a good race for Geay, who apart from looking to win a gold medal and the fabulous cash prize, he will also be gauging his prowess ahead of the Paris Olympic Games scheduled from July 26 to August 11,” said Athletics Tanzania (AT) secretary general, Jackson Ndaweka.

The winner will take home $150,000 (Sh390 million), while the runner-up will be awarded $75,000 (Sh194 million) and the third-placed person will receive $40,000 (Sh104 million).

The Boston Marathon is an annual race hosted by several cities and towns in greater Boston in eastern Massachusetts, the United States.

Aside from Geay, who last year defied the odds by finishing second at the 127th Boston Marathon ahead of favourite Eliud Kipchoge, also the Olympic Games squad comprises Alphonce Simbu, Magdalena Shauri and Jackline Sakilu who will represent the country in marathon.

Kenyan Evans Chebet pulled away from compatriot Benson Kipruto with less than two kilometres to successfully defend his Boston Marathon title.

Chebet recorded 02:05:54 while Geay 2:06:04 and Benson Kipruto also from Kenya recorded 2:06:06. World marathon record holder Eliud Kipchoge failed to sustain the heat and finished sixth in 2:09:23.