Arusha emerges overall winner of the national athletics events
Mwanza’s athletics association chairman, Julius Kambarage (right) shakes hands with Coast Region’s runner, Benedictor Mathias, who won gold in the 400 metres race during the national athletics championships held recently in Mwanza Region. PHOTO | IMANI MAKONGORO
What you need to know:
- The northern region has garnered 10 gold medals with five silver, and six bronze as the runner-up is Zanzibar's West Urban Region that won 13 medals, including seven gold, three silver, and three bronze.
Mwanza. Arusha Region has emerged the new overall winner of the just-ended National Athletics Championships after securing a total of 21 medals in Mwanza Region.
The northern region has garnered 10 gold medals with five silver, and six bronze as the runner-up is Zanzibar's West Urban Region that won 13 medals, including seven gold, three silver, and three bronze.
Coast Region rounded out the top three with eight medals—three gold, two silver, and three bronze.
Other regions that made it to the top 10, along with the number of medals they won into brackets are Kilimanjaro (two gold, four silver, and four bronze) and Tabora (one gold, three silver, and two bronze).
Dar es Salaam finished sixth with one gold and one bronze, while Dodoma and the host, Mwanza, each won two silver and two bronze, being placed seventh and eighth respectively.
Mbeya, which was represented by a single athlete sponsored by sports patron Dr Tulia Ackson, secured two silver medals to finish in ninth place, while Tanga won a silver medal to complete the top 10.
Another region that won a medal was Mara, which claimed one bronze to finish in 11th place.
The competition's director, Mhidini Masunzu, mentioned that the regions of Kagera, Manyara, Morogoro, Shinyanga, Simiyu, and Geita did not win any medal this season.
Closing the event, Athletics Tanzania (AT) president Silas Isangi said the enthusiasm of this year was high and would be expected to bring more success next season, urging regional leaders to send athletes according to their allocated quotas.
"Some regions were allocated 10 athletes, but sent fewer; this is not acceptable.
Next season, every region must send a team according to their allocated quota.
Those that fail to do so, as I mentioned earlier, will have their leaders disqualified," Isangi insisted.
In the competition, Arusha excelled in the 10,000 metres and 5,000 metres races for both men and women, as well as in the 800 metres, 400 metres relay, while West Urban dominated in throw events, and Coast Region shone in short-distance races and the 100 metres relay.
