Dar female athletes hold sway in 2023 Kili International Marathon

27Feb 2023
By Guardian Reporter
Moshi
Sport
The Guardian
Dar female athletes hold sway in 2023 Kili International Marathon

TANZANIAN Sarah Ramadhan has emerged as the winner of the 2023 Kilimanjaro Premium Lager International  Marathon's women's category, which has seen the country's athletes garner a resounding victory in the showdown for the first time.

Tanzanian athlete Magdalena Shauri, 2023 Tigo Kili Half Marathon's women's category champion, jubilates after crossing the finish line of the event which took place at Moshi Cooperatives University (MoCU) Stadium in Kilimanjaro yesterday. PHOTO: CORRESPONDENT JUMANNE JUMA

Sarah, who finished the women's category of the 42 kilometers race with a big smile on her face, was cheered by spectators that turned up at the Moshi Cooperatives University (MoCU) Stadium yesterday.

The champion clocked at 3:02:36 to claim the victory as the race celebrated its 21st anniversary.

The race's category's second place went to Neema Sanka who clocked 3:20:05 followed by Visa Mhalwa that finished third as she recorded 3:25:14.

The race has, for many years, been dominated by athletes from Kenya but yesterday they failed to secure the top three places in the showdown. Kenyan runner Jane Mathange ended fourth.

The showdown's men's category, though, was once again dominated by Kenyan athletes as Kenneth Kiprop Omulo was the category's winner, clocking 2:18:05, followed closely by Tanzanian, Aloyce Simbu, who clocked 2:18:29.

Another Kenyan Abraham Kipkosgei Too took the third position as he clocked 2:19:30.

Sarah walked away with a cash prize totaling 4.2m/- following her victory in the marathon.

There was also an additional cash prize of 1.5m/- for Sarah, a pledge that the showdown's main sponsor, Kilimanjaro Premium Lager brand, issued for any of the domestic athletes who will emerge victorious.

Simbu took home 2.1m/- following his second-place finish, as well as the additional cash prize of 1.5m/-.

Speaking during the presentation ceremony, Deputy Minister for Natural Resources and Tourism, Mary Masanja, who represented the ministry's head, Mohamed Mchengerwa, expressed her appreciation for the cooperation that had made the marathon a success.

Mary stated the showdown largely promotes Mount Kilimanjaro and the tourism sector in the country.

The Deputy Minister stressed that the government will continue cooperating with the marathon's organizers to ensure that the showdown becomes bigger and involve more people from inside and outside the country.

Speaking after the marathon's completion, Tanzania Breweries Limited (TBL) PLC's Managing Director, Jose Moran, thanked the leaders and residents of Moshi for cooperating with the organizers to make the race, which marked the 21st edition, a success.

The TBL Director also thanked the marathon's co-sponsors, various stakeholders, and athletes who participated in one way or another to make the race a success.

His statement was echoed by the Kilimanjaro Premium Lager's Brand Manager, Pamela Kikuli, who had, apart from appreciating the cooperation they got from the stakeholders and the government, claimed that there are still some duties to be accomplished so that the race can be bigger and promote the country and its tourist attractions.

Pamela said the TBL had set aside 22.7m/- for prizes for this year's marathon winners.

Sponsors for this year's marathon include Kilimanjaro Premium Lager-42km (Main Sponsors), Tigo- Half Marathon, and Grand Malt- 5Km Fun Run.

Kilimanjaro Water was the marathon's water table sponsor that was joined by TPC Sugar, Simba Cement, and TotalEnergies, official service providers were Surveyed Plots Company Limited (SPC), Kibo Palace Hotel, CMC Automobiles, KK Security, and Keys Hotel.

Kilimanjaro Premium Lager International Marathon is organized by Kilimanjaro Marathon Company Limited and nationally coordinated by Executive Solutions Limited.

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