Both men and women Kenyan athletes continued to underline their supremacy over Tanzanians in the annual Kilimanjaro Marathon after a clean sweep of the event held in Moshi, yesterday.
Steven Chebosus clocked 2:15:32 to win the 42 kilometre event and was trailed by two other compatriots David Kiprono (2:16:46) and Julius Tumakar who was beaten to the third spot by just ten seconds.
Tanzanian athletes Ali Juma (2:19:16) and Daud Joseph managed to squeeze themselves in the fourth and fifth positions while the other places up to the ten were again dominated by Kenyans.
In women category the Kenyans were also too hot to handle as Frida Lodepha clocked 2:40:22 to win the event as compatriots Evelyn Nyamu (2:40:26), Leah Kusara (2:42:23) and Truphema Kuraui was fourth placed.
The Kenyan women athletes hauled all the top ten positions with Tanzanians kept on the sidelines.
Prime Minister Mizengo Pinda was the guest of honour in the annual event that attracted hundreds of athletes from all over the world.
It was a day when Tanzanian Fabian Joseph sparkled in half marathon when he set up a new record for clocking 1:03:59 to erase the previous one of 1:04:15.
Joseph took home the top prize of 1.5m/- as Dickson Marwa came second for his time of 1:04:19 to scoop 750,000/- and third placed was Damian Chopa whose 1:04:26 timing pushed Kenyan Mgundu Sagwa to the fourth place with 1:04:28 timings.
From fifth to the tenth position, the explosive Kenyans took charge.
In women half marathon category Kenyan Naomi Maiyo clocked 1:16:26 to beat compatriot Beatrice Ruto whose 1:16:34 timing displaced Tanzanian Restituta Joseph by 13 seconds.
Kenyan Lucy Kirimi was fourth to beat Tanzanian Mary Naali, the previous edition’s runners-up.
Wilbroad Kidaga emerged winner in the five-kilometre fun run race, the event that attracted other entrants including the Deputy Minister for Information, Culture and Sports, Joel Bendera. Paul Kalera was second in the race as Doto Ramadhani finished third.
