Tanzania: Felix Sets New Rock City Marathon's 21km Record

By
Domician Genand/Holili's Boss

Mwanza Tanzania

ALPHONCE Felix of Arusha clocked 1 hour 02 minutes 17 seconds to win this year's Rock City Marathon in Mwanza after breaking last year's record of 1:05:00 set by compatriot Kopiro Chacha.

Kenyan Vicoty Chepkemoi won the women's race in 1:12:44. They were awarded 1.5m/- each. Felix, who finished third last year, said he has made a sky-high leap this year.

"This is my personal best time," he said. The Tanzanian's record time in the men's 21km race was contributed much by a stiff opposition from Kenyan star Joel Kimtiae, who finished second in 1:02: 24 ahead of Tanzanian Sambo Andrew, who came third in 1:03: 01.

Tanzanian Salum Nyokae was placed fourth, slightly ahead of veteran Dickson Marwa. The women's race witnessed another fierce showdown between Chepkemoi and Tanzanian Sarah Ramadhan who clocked 1:13:55 to finish second.

Veteran Zakia Mrisho could not cope with the bursting energy of the two leaders and was forced to finish third in 1:14:26, beating compatriot Damaris Aleba and Kenyan Angela Tanui to fourth and fifth positions respectively.

The runners-up received 900,000/- and a Continental recorder each while the third placed pocketed 700,000/- and decoder each. Wambura Lameck of Holili won the 5km race followed by Arusha's Dotto Ikangaa.

Mwanza's Muhindiro Yusto won the elders 3km race while Bernard Samike also of Mwanza excelled in the disabled race. Mwanza's Benedicto Mashauri and Suzana Madary won the children's races.

Over 1090 runners from Kenya, Uganda, India, Canada, Australia, Rwanda and South Africa took part in the event but determined Tanzanians out-shined them with a superb display.

Tanzania's legendary runners have commended the overall performance of this year's Rock City Marathon saying its time and organization qualified it into a global thriller.

One of them, Simon Mrashani, said this year's Rock City marathon was superior to the world acclaimed Sydney Half Marathon by two minutes. "Technically, a best runner is judged by his best time and so is the best race.

General, this year's Rock City Marathon was technically better than many world class events," he said at the CCM Kirumba Stadium -- the starting and finishing point of this year's thriller.

Athletics Tanzania (AT) secretary general Suleiman Nyambui said Rock City Marathon is growing each year and has managed to embrace races of all categories. 

He said the federation is impressed by the organization of the event and is ready to allow the organizers, Capital Plus International, to stage the full marathon (42km).

Ilemela Municipal Sports Officer Kizito Bahati, who represented the Mwanza Regional Commissioner, called on athletes in the Lake Zone to participate fully in the marathon.

He also urged leaders of athletics associations to draw up comprehensive development programmes that will benefit schools which are the breeding grounds. "I thank the organizers of the Rock City Marathon for helping us to identify and nurture talents," he said.

One of the biggest tourism promoters in the Lake Zone, the fifth edition of the Rock City Marathon was organised by Capital Plus International with the backing of the National Social Security Fund (NSSF).

They were joined by African Barrick Gold, Precision Air, Airtel through Airtel Money, Nyanza Bottlers, PPF, Sahara Media, Continental Decoders, Umoja Switch and Bank M.

 SOURCE: DAILY NEWS
Gidabuday Sports Tourism Foundation is a Non Profit Organization based in Arusha. It's main purpose is to promote, sensitize and enforce education through sports, as well as to search and develop new talents for sports from young people from marginalized communities all over the country.

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