ARUSHA: JOSEPH Panga, an athlete from the Tanzania People’s Defence Forces (TPDF), emerged as the overall winner of the 21-kilometre main event at the inaugural Tanfoam Marathon held over the weekend.
The event attracted over 1,000 athletes from across the country and beyond, saw Panga completed the race in 1 hour and 2 minutes, securing first place in the men’s category.
The winner narrowly beat his fellow TPDF runner, Mathayo Sombi, who clocked in 1 hour, 2 minutes and 10 seconds. In recognition of their remarkable performances, Panga was awarded a cash prize of 5m/- while Sombi bagged 2m/-.
In the women’s category, Hamida Nassoro from Police Tanzania claimed victory with a time of 1 hour, 9 minutes and 31 seconds, also earning 5m/- while the runner-up in the category was Neema Festo from the TPDF, who crossed the finish line by clocking 1 hour, 12 minutes and 47 seconds, winning 2m/-.
The event also attracted international talent, including Failuna Abdi, who secured third place in the women’s race with a time of 1 hour, 13 minutes and 27 seconds, taking home a cash prize of 1 m/-.
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Organised and sponsored by Tanfoam Tanzania Limited, a foam mattress manufacturer based in Arusha, the Tanfoam Marathon featured the largest cash prizes for a marathon in the region.
The company’s Director, Riaz Somji, a sports enthusiast and former golfer, praised all participants, especially those who traveled from various regions to race in Arusha.
The Marathon’s guest of honour, Boniface Tamba, the Acting Director of Sports Development at the Ministry of Culture and Sports, emphasised the importance of adhering to regulations and prioritising the health of athletes in such events.
While the Chairperson of the organising committee, Glorious Temu, highlighted the broad participation from various sectors, including private companies, government institutions, schools and social runners.
And on his part Arusha’s constituency, Member of Parliament, Mrisho Gambo, applauded the success of the marathon and noted that the ongoing construction of the AFCON Stadium in Arusha would include tracks for athletics events, further supporting the region’s growing sports infrastructure.
In addition to the 21-kilometre main race, the event also featured a 10-kilometre race with cash prizes for the top 10 finishers and foam mattresses for additional winners.
A 5-kilometre fun race was also held for casual participants. The Tanfoam Marathon was not only a significant sporting event but also a testament to the growing popularity of athletics in Tanzania.
