After clinching a bronze medal at last month’s Brazzaville half marathon, Rwanda’s long distance runner Eric Sebahire has turned focus to this year’s Dar Rotary Half Marathon, which will be held in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania on October 14.
After clinching a bronze medal at last month’s Brazzaville half marathon, Rwanda’s long distance runner Eric Sebahire has turned focus to this year’s Dar Rotary Half Marathon, which will be held in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania on October 14.
Sebahire was recently selected by Rwanda Athletics Federation (RAF) to compete at the annual event following his triumph at the just concluded Brazzaville Half Marathon that took place on August 15, in Congo-Brazzaville posting1:05:36.
The 31-year-old athlete will be seeking to improve on his 10th place finish on his last appearance in the annual race two years ago, while his compatriot Salome Nyirarukundo, will be hoping to successfully defend the women’s title.
"I have already began daily preparations and my focus is to win this competition,” said the APR Athletic Club runner.
Sebahire will be making his second appearance at the annual competition after debuting in 2014 finishing in the 10th position.
"In 2015 I had a good season winning a bronze medal in Kigali International Peace half Marathon and started well this season winning the same medal in Brazzaville and I hope to continue this good form by winning a gold medal this time,” he vowed.
Tanzanian Emmanuel Giniki took the men’s gold medal last year after clocking 1 hour and 2 minutes.
Meanwhile, 19-year-old Nyirarukundo will also travel to Dar-es-salaam to defend her medal that she won last year after posting one hour and 11 minutes beating stiff competition from Kenyan and Ethiopian athletes.
The 21km race will attract elite athletes from Ethiopia, Kenya, South Africa, Uganda, Burundi, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Rwanda and hosts Tanzania. Apart from the medals, the winners in both categories take home Tsh.3 million (about Rwf1m).
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