Following Sunday's MTN Kampala marathon, Uganda Athletics Federation (UAF) officials should be worried by Tanzania's performance.

A hitherto long distance underdog in the East African region, Tanzania claimed gold in both the men and women's 21km races on Sunday. Musa Faustin won the men's gold in 1:03:28, upsetting Ugandan champion Isaac Kiprop (1:03:34).

Another Tanzanian Samuel Shauri (1:04:46) closely followed in third before counterpart Joseph Restituta (1:15:47) swept the women's gold. "We couldn't bring our best runners but I am very happy that we are taking home two gold medals," Tanzanian coach John Bayo told Daily Monitor as his runners jumped up and down in celebration after receiving their awards.

Joseph Fabiano, the 2005 World Half Marathon champion and Martin Sule, a silver medallist at the 2006 Eastern Africa Cross-country Championships, are some of Tanzania's top long distance runners.

The duo didn't take part in Sunday's event that attracted close to 19,000 people. "We are doing quite well in half marathon although there is need to nurture good runners for the full marathon," coach Bayo noted. "If we continue like this, we shall be able to compete favourably with other East African countries." Charles Matwoi and Francis Musani were Uganda's best performers in the marathon, finishing fourth and fifth respectively.

21km (men)

Musa Faustin (TZ) 1:03:28

Isaac Kiprop (UGA) 1:03:34

Samuel Shauri (TZ) 1:04:46

Joseph Restituta (TZ) 1:15:47

Women

C. Mukasakindi (RWA) 1:18:06

R . Chemuttai (KEN) 1:18:06