Samia celebrates Simbu’s remarkable success at Boston Marathon

DAR ES SALAAM: PRESIDENT Samia Suluhu Hassan has extended glowing praise to Tanzania’s elite long-distance runner, Alphonce Simbu (pictured), following his spectacular performance at the 129th Boston Marathon, held on Monday in Boston, USA.

Simbu, known for his grit and endurance, soared to global acclaim after clinching second place in the prestigious race in a historic achievement in a marathon widely regarded as one of the world’s oldest and most gruelling, attracting over 30,000 runners from around the globe.

In her congratulatory message, President Samia expressed deep admiration for Simbu’s discipline, patriotism and resilience, writing: “Heartfelt congratulations to Alphonce Simbu for securing second place in the Boston Marathon. You have done an excellent job. Your victory is the result of hard work, thorough preparation and discipline — from your time in the army, during training, all the way to the competition — carrying our country’s name with great honour. Keep flying the flag of our nation high.”

The President hailed Simbu as a source of national pride, emphasising that his success will inspire a new generation of Tanzanian athletes to pursue excellence on the global stage.

Simbu crossed the finish line with a personal best of 2:05:04, narrowly behind Kenya’s John Korir, who claimed first place with a time of 2:04:45.

It was a dramatic and tightly contested race, with Simbu displaying extraordinary determination in the final stretch to secure his spot on the podium.

The Boston Marathon offers one of the richest prize purses in longdistance running with the winner taking home 150,000 US dollars. Second place receive 75,000 US dollars, while third place earns 40,000 US dollars.

Runners who finish from fourth to tenth will also be compensated, with prize amounts ranging from 25,000 to 5,500 US dollars depending on their placement.

John Korir, the 2024 Chicago Marathon winner, overcame an early fall at the start of the race to make a stunning comeback, surging ahead at the 20-mile mark.

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With two miles to go, he created an insurmountable lead and jogged through the finish, triumphantly holding his bib which he had lost during the fall in his hands.

His win makes history as he joins his brother, Wesley Korir (2012 Boston champion), as the only sibling duo to have won the Boston Marathon.

In the women’s race saw a fierce battle between Kenya’s Sharon Lokedi and two-time defending champion Hellen Obiri.

With less than two miles to go, Lokedi made a decisive move, powering through to set a new course record of 2:17:22, slicing 2 minutes and 37 seconds off the previous best set by Buzunesh Deba in 2014.

Obiri finished 19 seconds later, while Ethiopia’s Yalemzerf Yehualaw secured third with a time of 2:18:06.

This year’s marathon also commemorated the 50th anniversary of the first-ever wheelchair finisher, Bob Hall, who made history in 1975.

Swiss powerhouse Marcel Hug claimed his eighth Boston title in 1:21:34 and paid tribute to Hall’s groundbreaking achievement: “He is a real pioneer for our sport — he opened the door for us. We are forever grateful.”

In the women’s wheelchair race, American Susannah Scaroni made a triumphant return after injury, finishing first in 1:35:20.

Alphonce Simbu’s performance is not only a personal triumph but a shining moment for Tanzanian athletics.

As the world applauds his achievement, the nation beams with pride, with hopes high for even more milestones ahead.