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Simbu is only runner for Tanzania at world event
Tanzania's long distance runner Alphonce Simbu. PHOTO | COURTESY
What you need to know:
- Tanzania’s top runner Gabriel Geay also secured qualifying marks for the world event, but opted to skip the event and focus on other races including the the 2024 Paris Olympic Games
Dar es Salaam. Tanzania will be represented by only one runner, Alphonse Simbu, at the World Athletics Championships 2023 scheduled to take place from August 19 to 27 at the National Athletics Centre in Budapest, Hungary.
Simbu will compete in marathon as compatriot Gabriel Geay, who also secured qualifying marks for the event, has opted to skip it, focusing on other races including the 2024 Paris Olympic Games.
Geay’s move has prompted Athletics Tanzania (AT) to submit a letter of request to World Athletics (WA) to allow a replacement of its three runners namely Emmanuel Giniki, Agostino Sulle and Failuna Matanga ahead of the event.
AT secretary general Jackson Ndaweka said WA are yet to reply to their request as the deadline for submitting entries is on Sunday, July 30.
Ndaweka said Simbu and Geay met the qualification marks, however, they have requested WA to endorse Giniki to compete in the event after performing well in international competitions while Sulle through a wild card.
“Also, we have requested WA to endorse the country’s top female runner, Matanga, to feature in the event in accordance with her impressive position in the WA rankings,” said Ndaweka.
He said all the runners are currently in preparations for the event, despite the fact that they have not been given the green light. “The runners are under their respective coaches and few days they will set up joint residential camp,” he said.
According to IOC and WA, a male marathoner must get a time of 2:08:10, while a female athlete a time of 2:26:50.
The Budapest event is the 19th edition, according to the history of the WA Championships.
The city of Budapest had previously shown interest in hosting the 2007 WA event but withdrew and it eventually was held in Osaka, Japan.
"I can say that the runners are in good shape ahead of the events and I believe they will record the best results,” he said.
Ndaweka said Simbu will leave the country on August 22 for Hungary and arrive there the next day.
"The body initially planned for him to leave on August 14, so that he could participate in the opening, but he himself asked to arrive there three days before and if he ever does, it should be three weeks before the competition so that he can get used to the weather," he said.
