Tanzanian Marco Joseph clocked 29:34:46 to win the 10,000 metres race at the on going East and Central Africa athletic championship at the National Stadium in Dar es Salaam yesterday.

The winner beat seven other athletes competed in this category but it was the locals who took all the top three positions.

Making his debut appearance at big stage, Arnold Loning’o trailed the winner by clocking 30:20:54 to push Peter Sule into third place for his timings of 34:21:69.

Joseph said he was very happy to post a victory despite failing to set up any record.

Marco vowed to keep on practicing and gear up for big stage with the All Africa Games in Mozambique as his prime target in September.

“It is good, I felt much better in today’s race, I was hoping to make a record but failed. It was a good race to keep us on track for medals in Mozambique”, said Joseph.

However, the home side failed to perform well in the 800 meters men race which saw visitors dominating the top three positions.

Ethiopian Yelma Ydeo won the race for clocking1:48:81while Sudanese Mohamed Ismail who managed to huff 1:49:71. Third placed in the race was another Sudanese Elnazir Abdelgar who recorded 1:56:80.

The Zanzibar men athletes also merged winners in shot put final as Mohamed Mtwana won with 12.57 metres while Dominic Wilson and Maulid Khamis were second and third finishers recording 12.47m and 12.30 metres, respectively.

However, Kenya and Ethiopia did not send their strong and experienced athletes.

The competition has attracted eight countries namely Kenya, Uganda, Ethiopia, Sudan, Rwanda, Djibouti, Burundi and hosts Tanzania.