Star athletes to register for Kili Marathon

Dar es Salaam. Preparations for this year’s Kilimanjaro Marathon are on course, says the event’s organising committee.

Tomorrow, Arusha will host a two-day registration exercise for runners wishing to compete in the race at Kibo Palace Hotel.

Renowned runners from Manyara, including Fabian Joseph, Mary Naali and Emmanuel Giniki are among athletes expected to register for the race today.

Last week, similar exercise took place in Dar es Salaam where more than 700 runners confirmed their participation in the eagerly awaited race, which will also feature foreign athletes from Europe, America, Kenya, Uganda and Ethiopia.

The event’s coordinators confirmed yesterday that they were happy to see hundreds of runners turn up for registration in Dar es Salaam for the IAAAF-sanctioned event.

Executive Solutions managing director Aggrey Marealle said yesterday that more than 8,000 runners would compete in the race set for Sunday in Moshi, Kilimanjaro.

Marealle assured athletics fans that preparations for what promises to be tough but exciting event were underway.

He said he was optimistic athletes from Manyara and other regions would turn up in large numbers at the Arusha centre today and tomorrow for registration.

For her part, Kibo Palace Hotel Sales and Marketing manager Nuru Makia said hundreds of Arusha-based runners have shown interest in participating in the race.

“We expect tens of runners to turn up for registration because of the race’s popularity,” said Makia, whose hotel is one of the water table sponsors.

“It has always been our pleasure to partner with Kilimanjaro Marathon because it is one of the best ways to promote tourism in our country,” she said.

After Arusha, the registration of runners will move to Moshi at Keys Hotel. The three-day exercise will start on Thursday.

Sponsors for this year’s marathon include Tanzania Breweries Limited through its Kilimanjaro Premium Lager.