Simon Robert Naali

Simon Robert Naali ( born March 9, 1966; † August 13, 1994 in Moshi, Tanzania ) was a Tanzanian Central but especially long distance runners and other participants of the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona. He died at the age of 28 years at the consequences of an accident with a hit and run in his native Tanzania. He has four brothers, all of whom competed during their active time in running disciplines.

The second oldest Thomas Robert Naali, a prison guard, was just as successful as a long distance runner, the third oldest brother Egbert Robert Naali was active in the half marathon discipline. The youngest brother about six years younger Francis Robert Naali is also long-distance runner and won, among others, a gold medal at the Commonwealth Games 2002. With the born December 29, 1992 Mary Naali a descendant of Naali family is also already deep in the running integrated.

Career

1987 Naali won the marathon of Dar es Salaam with a time of 2:11:38, but nothing more about the exact distance of the barrel known. Even before his career as a marathon runner, the young Tanzanians was a middle-distance runner in action, where he won the first African to the half marathon Göteborgsvarvet among others in 1989, the it could also win two of his brothers over the years. He also won on 12 March 1989 from 1985 to 2004 discharged Mount Meru Marathon with a time of 2:14:40. His more notable first marathon completed Simon Robert Naali, in his home as a police officer working and already the father of three children, in 1989. During Honolulu Marathon, he won with a time of 2:11:47 and yet is still regarded as one of the fastest runners of this event. He managed to barely no new track record, the Ibrahim Hussein had three years previously placed with a time of 2:11:43. Only in 2004 was the Kenyans Jimmy Muindi with a time of 2:11:12, a new record set. From that time counted Robert Naali to the best marathon runners in the world, which he presented in the following years to the test. At the 1990 Commonwealth Games, he managed to eleven seconds behind the winners behind Douglas Wakiihuri ( 1 ) and Steve Moneghetti ( 2 ) only to third place and the bronze medal associated with it. His case established 2:10:38 should remain his personal best.

On April 16, 1990 he took, among others, at the Boston Marathon, where he was staying for a longer period in the peak field referred to by his compatriot Juma Ikangaa, but then fell back and had no more prospects to the podium. At the Stockholm Marathon the same year, Robert Naali however was able to beat the rest of the field and won the race with a time of 2:13:04 in front of José C. Santana and the subsequent two -time winner this petition Åke Eriksson. Just days before he was able to win the half marathon in Norway Sognefjord with a time of 1:01:44 for themselves. On August 19, 1990, he won the 10 - km road race in Copenhagen with a time of 28:05; the cross-country running Lidingöloppet on October 7, 1990 Robert Naali went with a time of 1:37:45 also emerged as the winner. Also in this year he was able to prevail as the winner at the Honolulu Marathon, where he was a duel with his younger brother Thomas played over the entire route, which he won in the last 500 meters before the finish for finally and with a time of 2:17:29 broke in to the finish. This was the third head-to -head race in an international operation of the two brothers in this year; Thomas came in this run 34 seconds after his older brother to the finish.

At the Honolulu Marathon the following year Robert Naali was his title no longer defend and ended the race after he had overtaken just before the finish line the Welsh Steve Jones, 19 seconds behind the Kenyans Benson Masya, who ran his first marathon, on second place from. In 2000 Simon Robert Naali was still in the competition held the second fastest time at this time, inducted into the Hall of Fame of the Honolulu Marathon. The award was representative, received unexpectedly by one of his younger brothers, by the former Tanzanian middle-distance runners and obstacle Filbert Bayi. Contrary to some reports that claim Simon Robert Naali would have the Great South Run won in 1991, it was his younger brother Thomas, who won the race with a time of 47:11 for themselves. A further success in 1991, he was with the victory at Trier's run ( half marathon ) record, which he ruled with a time of 1:04:10 for themselves. On August 24, 1991 he won after 1989 and 1990 for the third year in a row Stockholmsloppet, the half marathon in Stockholm. With a time of 46:56 Robert Naali won the 10 -mile road race from Zaandam on September 29, 1991; He repeated some two years later, on September 19, 1993 at the same event when he won with a time of 47:01 this success.

In 1992, the then 26 -year-old Tanzanian represented his country at the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona. In the final marathon, which took place in around 30 kilometers away Mataró, Robert Naali could not prevail and was not able to finish the race. In preparation for the Olympic Games, Robert Naali took this year among other again participate in the Boston Marathon. A year later he joined the Rotterdam Marathon in 1993 with a time of 2:11:44 by 38 seconds behind the Mexican Dionicio Cerón and 14 seconds ahead of Finland's Harri Hänninen on the second rank from. At the World Athletics Championships in Stuttgart in 1993 Simon Robert Naali and his brother Thomas was also involved. While the older of the two brothers the race with a time of 2:19:30 finished in eleventh place, the younger brother could not finish the race. With Juma Ikangaa took this year, a third Tanzanians at the marathon competition in the world championships. Even before the World Championships Simon Robert Naali took, among others, at the Tilburg Ten Miles, the first edition of this Bewerbes, part and went there with a time of 48:15 as the winner. Even in 1993, the Tanzanians won the marathon in Rouen, France, with a time of 2:15:43; his last major event this year.

In an accident with a hit and run on August 11, 1994 in Moshi, at the southern slopes of Kilimanjaro, Robert Naali suffered head injuries which initially did not seem particularly serious. As in Tanzania, however, is only one doctor for every 10,000 patients, his injury was not treated. Two days later he finally succumbed to the consequences of this violation. Only three months earlier, he was still at the 10 -mile road race from Tilburg in use and was able to win the race with a time of 47:10 for themselves.

In his native Simon Robert Naali was considered very generous and as a promoter of his sport; he is his younger brothers and other local athletes have continuously supported and have given them frequently running shoes.