Tanzania Daily News (Dar es Salaam)
12 May 2011
EXIM Bank Tanzania will continue supporting local athletes to compete at an international level, after such efforts saw Tanzanian runner Stephano Gwandu winning gold at the recently held 3rd Comoros International Marathon in Moroni.
Gwandu put up a sterling performance to eclipse pre-tournament favourites, Kenyans, who were made to chase the shadow to the finish line.
The little known marathoner clocked 2 hours, 23 minutes and 17 seconds, breaking the event’s record of 2:31:00 set by Kenya’s Hillary Kericho.
Kenyan runner Titus Rotich came second, while another Tanzanian long distance runner, Andrew Silvin, came third with a time of 2 hours 35 minutes.
The duo received a lucrative sponsorship deal from Exim Bank to compete in the annual event which is recognized by International Athletics Federation (IAAF). According to the organisers, at least 600 runners participated in this year’s event.
And, to spice up the event, the guest of honour, Annissi Chamsidine, Governor Elect of the island of Anjouan, participated and completed the marathon. He is over 50 years old.
The event captured the imagination of many people of the main island of Ngazidja and throughout the route of the marathon, people congregated at almost every junction to cheer the participants.
Apart from sponsoring the two runners, Exim Bank, which operates a branch in Moroni, was also among the prominent organizations that sponsored the full marathon.
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Tanzania: Exim Bank Vows Support in Athletics