Felix breaks Mwanza race record

Mwanza. A blistering chase for a Sh1.5 million cash prize between Tanzanian and Kenyan runners made this year’s Rock City Marathon more competitive and exciting than last year’s event.

The presence of Kenyan athletes also made the 21 km race a classy event. The Kenya –Tanzania showdown saw the hosts claim top honours in the men’s category while the former snatched the title in the women’s discipline in style.

Arusha’s little known athlete Alphonce Felix won the grueling 21km race  after clocking 1 hour, 02 minutes  and 21 seconds, shattering last year’s record of  1 hour, 04 minutes 02 seconds by two minutes.

The Tanzanian best time was contributed much to the stiff opposition from Kenyan star Joel Kimutae, who finished second in 1 hour, 02 minutes and 24 seconds, a few seconds  ahead of Tanzania’s Sambo Andrew who finished third in 1:03: 01.

The fourth overall was another Tanzanian Salum  Nyokae who finished slightly ahead of veteran Dickson Marwa.

The women’s 21 km race saw another fierce showdown between Kenya’s Vicoty Chepkemoi and Tanzanian Sarah Ramadhan.

The Kenyan won the duel in a dramatic finish after clocking 1 hour, 12 minutes and 44 seconds followed by Sarah Ramadhan who spent 1: 13: 55.

National middle distance star Zakia Mrisho was a pale shadow of herself. Against all expectations, she finished  third in 1: 14: 26 ahead of compatriot Damaris Aleba and Kenyan Angela Tanui.

Zakia, one of the country’s veteran athletes, commended the overall performance of athletes in this year’s Rock City Marathon, describing it as the best event of its kind in the country.

According to Simon Mrashani, this year’s Rock City marathon will go down as one of the most successful events the country has ever hosted.

“Technically, the best runner is judged by his best time and so is the best race,” Mrashani said after the race.

“Generally, this year’s Rock City Marathon was more competitive and better organised than some of the major international events technically,” said Marashani at CCM Kirumba Stadium, the starting and finishing point of this year’s event.

Arusha-based Alphonce Felix of Arusha, who finished third overall last year in 1:05:03, said he made a sky-high leap by clocking 1:02: 21.

“Finishing third last year motivated me to work harder this time, and my efforts eventually paid off,” he said.