Wesley Korir, left, and Sharon Cherop, both of Kenya, kiss the winner's trophy after winning the men's and women's divisions of the 116th Boston Marathon in Boston today.
BOSTON—Wesley Korir, a Kenyan citizen and permanent resident of the United States, won the Boston Marathon on Monday in a heat-slowed time of 2 hours, 12 minutes, 40 seconds that was almost 10 minutes behind the world best established here a year ago by Geoffrey Mutai.
It was the second-slowest Boston race since 1985, as temperatures rising into the 80s slowed the leaders and may have convinced as many as 4,300 entrants to sit this one out. Mutai, who was hoping a repeat victory would earn him a spot on the Kenyan Olympic team, dropped out after 18 miles with cramps.
Instead, Korir may have won a ticket to the London Games.
"To me, I think running the Boston Marathon is an Olympic event," the two-time Los Angeles Marathon champion said. "I don't care what comes up after this, but I'm really, really happy to win Boston."
Sharon Cherop won the women's race to complete the Kenyan sweep, outkicking Jemima Jelagat Sumgong to win by 2 seconds in 2:31:50. The women's race was decided by a sprint down Boylston Street for the fifth consecutive year.
Korir was the 19th Kenyan men's winner in 22 years. But he is hardly typical of the African runners who have come to dominate the event since Greg Meyer became the last American winner in 1983.
Pongezi za dhati kwa Kenya kwa ushindo mnono na kwa kututoa kimasomaso(kututoa aibu)wana wa afrika mashariki!Kenya imeweza kufanya kweli kwa mara nyingine tena.Tanzania tuko wapi?tunawaza ubunge tu na kuwa rais katika uchaguzi mkuu ujao?Hivi kweli viongozi wetu hawaoni aibu,kila mwaka wenzetu wanashinda mbio(track events) za kimataifa sehemu mbalimbali,sisi watanzania tumenywea kama vile hatuna uwezo wa kushindana?Ushindi kwa washiriki kutoka Tanzania, mipango na uratibu lazima uanzie Wizarani.Ndipo zifuate Taasisi,Mikoa,Wilaya,Vijiji,Vyuo na Mashule nchi nzima!Hivi kweli Wizara inayohusika na Michezo ina fuatilia Ratiba zote za mashindano mbalimbali ya Riadha Ulimwenguni kote?Inayo ratiba hiyo?Na kama inayo,imekuwa ikichukua hatua gani kuhakikisha vijana wetu nchini kote wana andaliwa kushiriki michezo mbalimbali?Na kama haina ratiba hizo,pale wizarani wakuu wanalipwa mishahara kila mwezi kwa kazi na mafanikio gani?Ni jambo la aibu kubwa sana,kwamba majirani zetu hapa,Kenya,wana uthubutu wa kushiriki baada ya maandalizi makubwa na kujihakikishia ushindi,na kweli wanashinda!siyo mshindi mmoja tu,bali washindi watatu hadi sita saba!Lazima watu wawajibishwe!Wizara peke yake haiwezi kufanikisha yote haya ninayo yasema.Lakini lazima Wizara ibebe dhamana ya kuibua vipaji,kuhamasisha taasisi mbalimbali,kuandaa ratiba za ushiriki na kuhakikisha ratiba hizo zinazingatiwa na kutekelezwa,kutafuta uwezo wa kifedha na rasilimali watu,kuratibu na kuhakikisha Tanzania inashiriki katika mashindano yote muhimu ya riadha kimataifa!Aibu,tukiishia kupiga Domo tu bila utekelezaji!Michezo,Sanaa na Riadha ni kielelezo cha Uhai wa Taifa lolote duniani!Ukiona Taifa lolote haliko active na halishiriki katika mashindano hayo ya kimataifa,ujue hilo ni Taifa "Mfu",linakabiliwa na Ulemavu Mkubwa sana wa kiakili na kifikra!Hebu tubadilike watanzania wenzangu,na sasa tubadilike,inawezekana kabisa!tusiendekeze sana siasa,hata hiyo siasa yenyewe imetushinda!siasa bila uchumi imara ni sifuri!
ReplyDeleteVipi Tanzania, mbona hatukuwakilishwa kwenye hii Boston Marathon, mwambieni waziri wa michezo arudishe michezo kule jeshini ili tuwapate tena akina Nyambui, Filbert buy na wenzao wanao fanana nao, ni aibu hii hata michezo tunashindwa?
ReplyDeleteMdau wa kwanza, Wakenya wanaoshiriki riadha hawasaidiwi na serikali yao bali wao wenyewe wamefanya hiyo ni ajira. Watoto wote washule za msingi katika majimbo ya Wakalenjini wamesafisha uwanda na kuweka vihuzi vya kuruka ikifika jioni wanafanya mazoezi. Wenye viwango wanachukuliwa na maajenti wa kizungu na serikali inawachagua kwenye timu ya olimpiki na mashindano ya dunia. Ni bidii zao binafsi na kujua mambo. Wanapata masponsor na mascholarship kwa bidii zao sio serikali.
ReplyDeleteTANZANIA:
ReplyDeleteHatuna chetu kwenye Soka, Riadha, Ngumi na Vinginevyo,
Angalau ili kuambulia chochote ktk Tasnia ya Michezo tungedumisha Michezo kama Mbio za kufukuza Kuku, mbuzi na kukimbia na magunia!
Subiri utasikia timu ya tz itakayoshiriki olimpiki uk mwaka huu itakuwa na wanariadha wawili, bondia mmoja na viongozi wa kutuwakilsha sabini hivyo bendera yetu itapeperushwa na watu watatu.
ReplyDeleteJamani wewe mdau wa hapo juu kama unataka kuiwakilisha serikali yako ya TZ wewe anza basi hizo mbio kha!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! serikali serikali watafanya mangapi siunamuona Hasheem kwani alitumwa na serikali???????? Alivyo ingizwa NBA serikali ilitambua na sifa ikarudi TZ so just do it yourself wakenya wenzetu nao ndivyo walivyo tena cha kushangaza ni kabila moja hilo hilo kila siku Kalenjin. stop blaming the Government everyday.
ReplyDeleteLets be serious jamani!Katika mazingira kama ya kwetu unatarajia vijijini watu wanaweza kuji organise wakawa na mashindano,wakapanga ratiba zao,wakawa na uelewa wa kuyajua mashindano ya kimataifa venues na tarehe zake pamoja na entry requirements katika mashindano hayo!You must be joking!Kenya wametoka mbali katika track events!Lazima tuilaumu serikali yetu hususan Maofisa wa pale wizarani,what are they doing? haya,endeleeni kungoja watu wajipange vijijini kwa jitihada zoa wenyewe!tumeshawazoea nyie!
ReplyDeleteWe mdau hapo, Watz wakajitahi kuweka kamba wenyewe wakirudi kesho yake wanakuta bango na uzio kwamba hilo eneo limeuzwa kwa kigogo, je wafanyie wapi zoezi angalau basi kwa juhudi zao bila msaada wa serikali?
ReplyDelete