DAR ES SALAAM, Nov. 6 -- ONCE upon a time, Tanzania ran, jumped, hurdled and threw its way into international athletics history. Today we seem content to put nearly all our sporting eggs in the marathon basket.

So, as our athletics administrators settle into their Sunday rest, allow me to remind them that the world of athletics extends well beyond 42 kilometres. Let us first celebrate our marathon champions.

Alphonce Felix Simbus gold at the 2025 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo was a magnificent achievement. But surely, my dear countrymen, we cannot keep asking a handful of marathon runners to carry the whole nations athletics ambitions on their shoulders. Even the strongest shoulders get tired. Let us travel back to 1974.

At th...