Dar es Salaam. Athletics Tanzania (AT) has saluted Ngorongoro Conservation Area Authority (NCAA) for sponsoring Open National Championships held in Arusha last week.
AT Secretary General, Wilhelm Gidabuday said yesterday NCAA support has enabled them to scout out runners who will form the National team that will be gearing ahead of the various international competitions in the world.
Gidabuday said many sports bodies are now struggling for sponsorship in order to perform their taskd, but due to the ‘normal’ situation, they are forced to conduct sporting activities without any support. “Winners have been given medals and cash prizes. This will enable runners to continue with the game and do their the best because there are rewards.
Apart from cash prizes, the runners have been given the chance to visit Ngorongoro National Park and enjoy seeing various animals. Japanese instructor, Ayane Sato also visited the national park, ” said Gidabuday.
The race saw Tanzania’s elite long distance runners Fabiano Sulle and Natalia Elisante racking up top honours at the 2018 Ngorongoro National Athletics Open Championship. Sulle raced to gold in the men’s marathon at the Sheikh Amri Abeid Memorial Stadium in Arusha yesterday, beating off competition from Emmanuel Giniki and Marco Sylvester.
Sulle clocked 14.08.21 while Giniki and Sylvester finished second and third in 14.13.31 and 14.36.88 respectively.
Up-and-coming marathoner Francis Damiano finished fourth in 14.41.21 while Mathayo Sombi recorded 14.54.49 to finish fifth. In the women’s marathon, Natalia put up a spirited fight to win the closely contested race in 16.54.53.
Arusha’s Angelina Daniel finished second clocking 17.18.80 while Angelina John of Singida finished third in 18.10.68.
