Malawi’s Tereza Master breaks national record at Olympics

Malawi’s marathon athlete Tereza Master has made history after breaking the national record in women’s marathon at Rio Olympic Games on Saturday.

Master finished the grueling 42.125km event, which is the epitome of the Olympic Games, in 2:48:36 hours on position 98 0ut of 141 athletes who entered the race.

Malawi Olympic Committee (MOC) President Oscar Kanjala hailed Master for the feat having entered on solidarity.

“Our flag bearer at Rio 2016 ladies marathon Tereza Master attained position 98 out of 141 entrants. She clocked 2:48:36 hours setting a new record for Malawi,” Kanjala, said in a message posted on his Facebook page.

Apart from breaking the national record Master, who is a product of one of Malawi’s extreme sports events Mulanje Mountain Porters Race, also made another milestone by finishing in the top 10 among African women.

She also managed to beat many athletes who had qualified despite that the Malawian participated on solidarity alongside KefasKasteniChitsala (5000m), swimmers Amara Pinto and Brave Lifa in 50m freestyle and David Arenao in archery.

KasteniChitsala is scheduled to contest on Wednesday in the 5,000m, the last of Malawi’s five-member delegation.

Former Athletics Association of Malawi (AAM) President Richard Nyirongo commented on Facebook of the need for supporting such potential athletes.

“We need to support these young people. There is so much potential and energy out there,” Nyirongo said.

Kenyan Jemina Sumgong won the marathon in 2:24:04 hours, Eunice Kirwa of Bahrain finished in 2:24:13 hours to win silver, Ethiopia’s Mare Dibaba grabbed bronze in 2:24:30 hours while her compatriot TirfiTesegaye finished fourth in 2:24:47.

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