The Minister for Culture, Art and Sports Dr. Damas Ndumbaro (left) and the Tanzania Breweries Limited Country Director, Michelle Kilpin (right) handing over a dummy cheque to female winner of the Kilimanjaro Premium Lager International Marathon 42 km race, Natalia Sulle during the 22nd edition of the event in Moshi on Sunday.
MOSHI: THE Kilimanjaro Premium Lager International Marathon continued to be the attraction of many people to the extent that various activities stopped in the town of Moshi, Kilimanjaro region during the 22nd edition of the event which took place yesterday (on Sunday) in Moshi within Kilimanjaro region with Tanzanians excelling in the races.
Scores of runners from inside and outside the country took part in the event, pushing the estimated number of participants to more than 10,000. in all the three distance segments which included the Kilimanjaro premium lager 42km, 21km Tigo Half marathon and the Gee Soseji 5km fun run.
Proportionate to the rising popularity of the marathon, which is one of the big sports events in East Africa, and the increase in the number of participants over the years, the level of organizational challenge has also been growing every year.
Minister for sports, culture and sports, Dr Damas Ndumbaro flagged off the races, took part and finished the 5km fun run and later on was at the finishing line to receive the proud finishers including the winners of all categories.
Speaking during the event minister Ndumbaro commended the organizers of the event which he said contributed a lot in improving sports in the country as well as identifying new talents ever year.
“The Government has and will continue to work closely with the founding members, main sponsors and other sports stakeholders in making sure the event which started more than 20 years ago becomes sustainable for the benefits of sports development in the country”, he said.
“May I take this opportunity to thank the main sponsors of the event Kilimanjaro premium lager and other sponsors who include the Tigo- 21km Half Marathon, Gee Soseji – 5Km Fun Run, water table sponsors Simba Cement, Kilimanjaro Water, TotalEnergies, CRDB Bank and TPC Sugar, as well as official partners-Garda World Security, CMC Automobiles, Salinero Hotels and suppliers – Kibo Palace Hotel and Keys Hotel.
For her part the TBL CEO who are the main sponsors of the event since it was established in 2003, Michelle Kilpin said the event has made dramatic strides as it enters its 22nd Anniversary.
“This achievement has been witnessed by millions across the world; It has been an exciting journey as this is now one of the biggest international athletics events in the entire region as it brings together over 12,000 runners and many more spectators from Tanzania and over outside the country whereby this year in drew participants from 56 countries”, she noted.
She added, “Our sponsoring brand ‘Kilimanjaro’ proudly shares its name with the magnificent mountain, Mount Kilimanjaro, a world-renowned attraction which like our brand stands tall and the magnet for so many enthusiastic foreign and local runners here today”, she continued to say.
“May I take this opportunity to congratulate all the winners today and even those who did not win but managed to finish the race; we as Kilimanjaro Premium Lager are giving 28m/- as prizes in total where the first male and female in the 42km race will each walk home with 4m/-”, she said.
The CEO also thanked the Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism through the Tanzania Tourist Board (TTB) for the massive support they have and continue to give the Kilimanjaro International Marathon over the past 22 years.
“As the main sponsors, we will continue to support this initiative to ensure the sports and tourism policies are well implemented; the success of this event through the support of our stakeholders has helped promote our brand and push sales contributing to the success of the business that has seen Tanzania Breweries remain the leading tax payer thus making a significant contribution to employment and the economy”, she added.
Speaking during the occasion, the Tigo company’s who are the sponsors of the Kilimanjaro International Half Marathon category Innocent……..said the company was very proud to be part of the famous marathon in Africa for the ninth year in a row.
The Managing Director of the Gee Soseji who are the new sponsors of the 5km Fun Run Business and the CEO, David Minja, said that the event was the right platform for improving sports that it (company) was proud to be part of the Kilimanjaro marathon family.
“By participating in this race, we will cooperate with the main sponsors, other co-sponsors and sorts stakeholders in general to make sure the event becomes sustainable”, he said.
During the event, Augustino Sulle from Tanzania won the 42km men’s category after clocking 02:21:06, ahead of Abraham Kosgei from Kenya; the Kenyan clocked 02:22:02 to clinch the second place, while Elisha Kimutai clocked 02:22:17 to win the third place.
In the women category, Natalia Sulle won the race. The Tanzanian athlete clocked 02:51:23 as she soared to win the race, ahead of her compatriot Neema Sanka who clocked 02:51:47 to claim the second place, while Vailet Kidasi won the third place after running for 03:01:03 to complete a all three Tanzanians parade at the podium in the women’s 42 km category.
In the Tigo Half Marathon men’s category, the race was won by Faraj Damas from Tanzania who clocked 01:16:40, followed by Peter Mwangi from Kenya who run for 01:03:44, while Tanzanian Kennedy Abel won the third place after clocking 01:04:22.
In the race’s women category, which as dominated by Tanzanian athletes, Failuna Matanga won the race after clocking 01:16:40, Neema Kisuda won the second place after running for 01:16:54, whereby Neema Mbua also from Tanzania won the third place after clocking 01:17:07. In the 21 km women’s category Vivian Opskvik from Norway clocked 01:29:09 to put emphasis on the event’s International status.
