Tanzania Olympic Commitee

Men Marathon: Samson Ramadhan, Msenduki Mohamed, Geturi Bayo 5000m and 10000m: Fabiano Joseph 10000m: Dickson Marwa, Samuel Kwaang'w 800m: Samuel Mwela Women 5000m: Zakia Mrisho

Tanzanian athletes competing at the 2007 IAAF World Championships in Osaka, Japan, are expected to leave on Monday (20 August), Tanzania’s athletics officials have said here. The Osaka Worlds will start on 25 August and will end on 2 September, the officials said. Athletics coach Morris Okinda told APA that the athletes, who had been training in the northern town of Arusha, returned to Dar es Salaam on Tuesday for final preparations. “The athletes’ preparations are really encouraging and we are in Dar es Salaam for further training so as to acclimatise with Japan’s weather,” Okinda said. The athletes are Samson Ramadhan, Christopher Isegwe, Getuli Bayo, Andrew Sambu, Michael Tluway and Silvin Andrew (marathon), Dickson Marwa (10,000m) and Samwel Mwera (800m). Okinda expressed optimism over the athletes’ preparations, saying they will be in great shape ahead of the championships. Okinda added that Athletics Tanzania (AT) president Francis John and executive committee member Filbert Bayi will leave for Osaka on Sunday (19 August) to attend the IAAF’s annual general meeting. “John and Bayi are the members of the IAAF’s annual general meeting and will leave a day before the team’s departure,” he said. The 11th IAAF World Championships are set to attract the cream of athletics talents from all over the world. JGN/nm/APA 2007-08-16 African Press Agency