Simbu clinches Tanzania's first-ever World Championships gold with marathon victory in Tokyo

TOKYO, Sept. 15 (Xinhua) -- London World Championships bronze medalist Alphonce Felix Simbu waited eight years for his second medal on the global stage, and this time he made history by becoming the first Tanzanian to win gold at the World Athletics Championships with victory in the men's marathon on Monday.

The 42.195-kilometer race came down to a 100-meter sprint in the Japan National Stadium, where the 33-year-old Simbu edged Germany's Amanal Petros at the line. Both clocked two hours, nine minutes and 48 seconds, with the photo finish confirming Simbu ahead by just 0.03 seconds - the smallest winning margin ever in a global championship marathon.

"Just look at the finish and the kick. When we entered the stadium, I was not sure if I would win. I did not know if I won. But when I saw the video screens and me on the top of the results, I felt relieved," Simbu said. "I made history today - the first Tanzanian gold medal at the World Championships. I remember in 2017, at the World Championships in London, I won a bronze. Then I ran many times but never got any medals, so finally it is here."

Eritrea-born Petros showed sportsmanship after the narrow loss. "I'm sad I lost the gold in the last three meters but I am very happy also for the Tanzanian. That's sport, and that's why we compete," he said. "As an athlete you have to learn for tomorrow, train hard, keep going and be thankful for the silver. It was not an easy race. There were a lot of tactics. It was a slog, a very heavy situation."

Italy's Iliass Aouani, 29, took bronze in 2:09:53.

In a rare sight at a major marathon, neither Kenya nor Ethiopia placed a runner in the top 15. China's national record holder He Jie finished 26th in 2:14:52, with teammates Yang Shaohui and Wu Xiangdong placing 30th and 31st. Enditem