TANZANIAN Joseph Panga won the home crowd applause at the Kilimanjaro Marathon 2020 held in Moshi.
Panga swept out competent Kenyans to win the Tigo Kilimanjaro half Marathon men’s category, while in the women’s discipline, Tanzanian Magdalena Shauri crossed the finishing point at Moshi Cooperative University (MoCU) in first place.
Thousands of runners from different countries competed in the prestigious event, sanctioned by the International Association Athletics Federation (IAAF).
Panga won a heroic welcome at fully –packed finish ground, after he clocked 01:03:59 to win the gold Medal as few Kenyans followed after him in a top ten.
Josephat Joshua from Tanzania, Vincent Towett and Wilson Kibogo both from Kenya finished second, third, and fourth, clocking at 01:04:28, 01:04:32, and 01:04:36 respectively.
“I feel proud of my home victory, it was a tough race. The last 100 metres before the finish line was the hardest to me because my opponents were closely running after me, but I pulled up to Make sure that I beat them all,” said Panga, who also recommended the role played by Tigo for sponsoring the event.
In the women’s discipline (Tigo Kili half marathon), Magdalena Shauri of Tanzania continued her prowess, winning the race.
Magdalena clocked at 01:09:54 to win the first place followed by Kenyan Susy Chebet who clocked 01:16:18.
For his part, the for Tigo’s Chief Financial Officer, Innocent Rwetabura said that, his company will continue sponsoring sports in the country that plays big part in the empowering new talents like Alphonce Simbu whop presented Tanzania well in the Olympic Athletics Championship.
Rwetabura further added that, Tigo has been a main sponsor of the Tigo Kili Half Marathon the past five years ago.
