Kilimanjaro half surge
The 2026 Kilimanjaro events saw Tanzanian runners dominate the Yas Kili International Half Marathon — organizers say thousands participated and local media highlighted a surge in national depth (web briefing). Regional Commissioner Nurdin Babu praised the race partnership with the community and noted the event drives tourism and commerce across northern Tanzania (web briefing). (dailynews.co.tz)(therespondents.co.tz)
Michael Geay of Tanzania won the men’s 21.1km in 1:04:10 and Hamida Nasoro Mussa took the women’s title in 1:12:45 at the Yas Kili International Half Marathon. (thecitizen.co.tz) (dailynews.co.tz) The full marathon was won by Kenyan William Morwabe in 2:18:52, with Letanto Stephen second (2:19:21) and Tanzania’s Charles Sule third (2:19:31), while Alice Kamunya won the women’s full marathon in 2:50:33. (dailynews.co.tz) President Samia Suluhu Hassan has pledged to attend the 2027 edition and to boost winners’ prize money by TZS 100 million, a commitment conveyed by Sports Minister Paul Makonda after the race. (therespondents.co.tz) (dailynews.co.tz) Organisers reported more than 9,000 confirmed local and international entrants in advance of the weekend races and had earlier projected the event could draw over 12,000 participants from more than 60 countries. (arushanews.co.tz) YAS Tanzania’s CEO Pierre Canton-Bacara said the company has sponsored the 21km race for over 12 years, noted YAS’s three-year recognition by Ookla as Tanzania’s fastest network, and pledged a Yas Green for Kili tree-planting programme totalling 50,000 trees with 3,000 seedlings already planted in Njoro. (therespondents.co.tz) The Kilimanjaro Marathon 2026 carried official Comrades Marathon qualifying status for the full distance, organisers closed entries ahead of the March 22 race, and event organisers ran a People’s Expo alongside the races while the full-marathon winners received a Sh5 million cash award apiece. (kilimanjaromarathon.com) (arushanews.co.tz)
