ATHLETICS: TZ athletes shine at Rock City Marathon

Mwanza. Tanzanian athletes upstaged their Kenyan counterparts at the sixth edition of the Rock City Marathon yesterday after winning both men’s and women’s gold medals.

Joseph Panga from Manyara out sped close Kenyan challengers to win the gruelling 21 kilometre race in a dramatic fashion at the CCM Kirumba Stadium.

The Kenyans posed a constant threat to the Tanzanian, but eventually Panga’s long legs proved the difference as he raced to the finish line.

The Manyara-based marathoner clocked 1 hour, 02 minutes and 36 seconds. 

Despite clinching gold, Panga failed to beat the event’s best time of 1:02:21 set by last year’s winner Alphonce Felix of Arusha.

“Though I am slower by 17 seconds, it is still my personal best time in this event,” said the winner shortly after the race.

The first runner-up was Kenyan Sammy Nyokaye who clocked 1:02:39 followed by his countryman Festo Talamu who crossed the line after 1:03:05.

After failing to win top positions in the men’s category, Arusha athletes put sterling displays in the women’s half marathon, sweeping the first two spots.

Natalia Elisantha emerged as the winner after timing 1:14:25 ahead of Mary Naali who clocked 1:15: 34.

Kilimanjaro’s Adelina Audat came in third after spending 1:23:05 in the well –contested race.

In the inaugural track event, Emanuel Joseph from Lightway School of Singida won the 1500m race followed by his school mate Baraka Sebastian while Erick Charles from Bujora Primary School in Mwanza claimed the second runner-up position.

Lightway School also won the women’s event through Pascalina Sylvester followed by Nyakwesi Mtebe from Kisesa School in Mwanza while Rebecca Phillip from Bujora Mwanza won the third position.

Besides the showdown between Tanzanian and Kenyan runners, the introduction of sprint and middle distance races added flair to this year’s edition, according to Simon Mrashani, an official from Mara and former Tanzanian marathon star.

Mrashani commended the overall performance of this year’s Rock City Marathon competitors and called for the event to be recognised internationally. The legendary runner said despite the presence of athletes from Kenya, the Tanzanian runners were outstanding.

One of the biggest tourism promoters in the Lake Zone, the sixth edition of the Rock City Marathon was organised by Capital Plus International under the backing of NSSF while Airtel, Coca-Cola joined as among a host of co-sponsors.

Other sponsors were TSN group of companies through its Chilly Willy energy drink, African Barrick Gold, IPTL, Air Tanzania, New Mwanza Hotel, Nyanza Bottling, Sahara Media Group, Continental Decoders, New Africa Hotel, PPF, Tanapa and Tanzania Tourist Board.