Simbu eyes New York Marathon after World Championship win

DAR ES SALAAM: Simbu eyes New York Marathon after World Championship win By COSMAS MLEKANI FRESH off a historic gold-medal victory at the World Athletics Championships, Tanzania elite marathoner, Alphonce Simbu, has hinted at the possibility of competing in the prestigious New York City Marathon, scheduled for November 2 this year.

Speaking from Tokyo, Japan in an online interview yesterday, Simbu said that while the iconic race is part of his plans, a final decision will be made upon his return to Tanzania.

“I had planned to take part in the New York Marathon, but a final decision will be made after discussions with my coach and agent. However, it was my initial plan to compete in the race,” he stated, reflecting on his upcoming competitive schedule.

Simbu is set to arrive back home today, and the government, in partnership with the Tanzania People’s Defence Force (TPDF), has organised a grand hero’s welcome at Julius Nyerere International Airport (JNIA), Terminal III in Dar es Salaam.

The celebrations will feature traditional music, cultural performances and jubilant crowds ready to honour the nation’s newest sporting icon.

In addition, a special reception ceremony will be held on Saturday in Dar es Salaam where national leaders, sports officials and fans will gather to officially congratulate Simbu on his triumph. The event is being spearheaded by the government, with support from the TPDF.

“The government is taking the lead in organising this celebration and we want to honour Simbu in a way that reflects the pride he has brought to the country,” confirmed Neema Msitha, Secretary-General of the National Sports Council (NSC).

Simbu stunned the world by clocking 2:09:48 to clinch gold in the men’s marathon at the World Championships — marking Tanzania’s first-ever gold medal in the history of the event since its inception in 1986.

In a nail-biting finish, he edged out Amanal Petros of Germany, who finished second with the same time, while Iliass Aouani of Italy claimed bronze, crossing the line just five seconds later at 2:09:53.

Although Simbu had previously won bronze at the 2017 World Championships in London, this latest achievement cements his status as a national legend and global contender.

Before Simbu’s golden moment, Tanzania had only one medal in the World Championships, a silver won by Christopher Isegwe in the 1985 edition, also in the marathon.

Simbu now joins Isegwe as one of only two Tanzanian athletes to have ever stood on the World Championship podium.

This year, Tanzania was represented by two athletes: Simbu and Josephat Gisemo, who unfortunately did not finish the race due to lack of experience at the elite level.

ALSO READ: Simbu victory sends World Athletics Championships commentator viral

The team had initially planned to send six runners, but Gabriel Geay withdrew to focus on the Berlin Marathon, which took place yesterday (Sunday in Berlin, Germany), where he is regarded as a strong medal contender, however, he failed to shine.

Additionally, top female athletes Failuna Abdi Matanga, Magdalena Shauri and Jaquline Sakilu were unable to compete due to delays in mandatory gender verification testing, a requirement for female competitors in international events.

For his outstanding performance, Simbu will receive a cash prize of 70,000 US dollars, equivalent to over 174 million shillings, a well-earned reward for bringing pride to his nation and etching his name into the annals of athletics history.

Meanwhile another Tanzanian Joseph Panga delivered a strong performance at the 51st Berlin Marathon, finishing 9th with a time of 2:09:35, earning both international recognition and a 2,000 euros cash prize.

Despite humid conditions that prevented record-breaking times, Panga finished among the top 10 in a race featuring over 55,000 runners, including celebrities like Harry Styles and André Schürrle.

Kenya swept the event, with Sabastian Sawe winning the men’s race in 2:02:15, and Rosemary Wanjiru triumphing in the women’s race in 2:21:05, becoming the first Kenyan woman to win Berlin since 2018.

Though no records were broken due to warm weather, the marathon maintained its elite status and festive atmosphere.