Kisoma excited with the OCR achievement
DAR ES SALAAM: ATHLETE Mwahija Kisoma is all smiles after marking a significant milestone in her Obstacle Course Racing (OCR) career. As over the weekend, she secured her third Spartan race and earned the prestigious Trifecta Status in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (UAE).
In an exclusive interview with ‘Daily News’ from Dubai, Kisoma expressed her excitement after achieving her first major goal in a series of international competitions.
“I feel truly blessed to make history in OCR in such a short time,” she said. “For Tanzania, this is a remarkable achievement.” Kisoma’s accomplishment in Abu Dhabi saw her complete three world-class OCR events, earning her a spot in the exclusive Trifecta club.
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The Trifecta is a prestigious accolade awarded to Spartan competitors who complete three or more races within a designated time frame. Only 10,000 athletes worldwide have earned this distinction and for the first time, Tanzania is now part of this elite group.
“I’m delighted that Tanzania has, for the first time, had the opportunity to participate in the internationally recognised Spartan Beast competitions, sanctioned by the Fédération Internationale de Sports (FISO), the global governing body of obstacle course racing,” she explained.
These competitions bring together elite athletes from around the world, with Africa represented by only Tanzania and South Africa. Kisoma emphasised that Tanzania’s inaugural participation in Spartan events has paved the way for the country’s inclusion in qualifying events for the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.
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“This is a huge step forward for us,” she added.
“Our achievements here could open doors for future athletes from Tanzania to compete at the highest level.” Beyond her personal success, Kisoma is proud of the broader impact her participation has had on promoting Tanzania as a tourism destination. “This accomplishment not only brings pride to me, but also to our nation. It’s an important opportunity to showcase Tanzania’s beauty to the world especially places like Mount Kilimanjaro, Zanzibar and our incredible wildlife parks,” she said.
During her time in Abu Dhabi, Kisoma also had the privilege of meeting Nayibe Statia, Chairperson of the World Obstacle Technical Officiating Committee. Statia, who conducted the firstever Level 1 OCR Technical Officials training in Dar es Salaam in September 2024, expressed optimism about Tanzania’s potential in OCR.
Kisoma was among the 50 participants in the training, which further strengthened the country’s presence in the global OCR community.
Looking ahead, Kisoma is already preparing for her next challenge. After her success in Abu Dhabi, she travelled to Dubai to compete in the World Obstacle Championships (DWOC), which kicked off today.
Kisoma will compete in both the 2,500m and 5,000m Elite categories. The competition runs through to December 8, 2024. “I am grateful to God for bringing me this far,” Kisoma said, reflecting on her journey.
“I look forward to this next challenge in Dubai and beyond.” Kisoma’s accomplishments are a testament to her hard work and determination and she continues to inspire athletes in Tanzania and across Africa to pursue excellence in obstacle course racing.
