LONG-DISTANCE runner Israel Mudimba of Rangemore Athletics Club was the men’s winner of the ZB Bank 21km Half Marathon ran under a perfectly cool weather in Bulawayo yesterday.
Mudimba left Bulawayo Athletic Club (BAC) US$200 richer after crossing the finishing line in 1:15:58 to shrug of challenge from Blanket Mine’s Mothokozisi Sibanda who hit the tape in 1:16:15 to come second while John Payarira of ZRP came third in 1:16:54.
Sibanda picked up a cash prize of US$150 while Payarira went home with US$100.
Mudimba said the weather was ideal for the race and he is accustomed to the terrain as he trains there.
He beat the record of Liam Savari of Eagles Athletics Club who finished in 1:17:03 in the inaugural ZB Bank 21km half Marathon, held in Harare last year.
“It was a perfect race, very well-organised for a first marathon in Bulawayo. The weather was good. There were some athletes who were ahead of me for the better part of the race, but I accounted them at 10km as I knew they would fail on endurance. I know that route, the terrain is good and I come from Bulawayo and train there,” an excited Mudimba said.
He said the race came at an opportune time as he prepares for the 2024 SA Run4Cancer 48km Ultra Marathon to be held on October 28 in Polokwane.
The ZB Bank marathon started along Matopos Road and ended at BAC.
In the ladies section, Anne Chirisa of the National University of Science and Technology (NUST) got herself the US$200 first prize-money after finishing the 21km in 1:43:51 beating ZRP’s Philipa Dube who crossed the line in 1:44:52 to claim US$150 while independent athlete Claudia Matuvi was third in 02:01:37 and was rewarded with US$100.
Andrew Ndlovu iof Blanket Mine won the men’s 10km race in 43:34 and got US$150 for his effort with Freedom Banda of Sparrows coming second in 43:42 while Super Stars’ Emmanuel Toperesu was third in 54:31.
Banda and Toperesu walked away with US$100 and US$75 respectively.
In the women’s 10km category the first prize of US$150 went Tulange Mudenda, an independent athlete who crossed the line in 53:19 with the second prize of US$100 going to Thobekile Ncube of ZRP Harare who finished the race in 54:38 with Fitness First’s Miranda Musinwa coming third in 1:09:19.
Musinwa got US$75.
In the men's 10km wheelchair category Munyaradzi Katiyo (US$150) came first in the men’s section in 44:44 with Previous Wiri (US$100) on the second spot in 45:38 and seasoned Samson Muroyiwa (US$75) coming third in 51:04
Stella Jongwe was the winner in the women’s wheelchair in 59:34 to get US$150 category beating Thandiwe Ndlovu who finished in 1:01:49 and got US$100 while Moline Muza was on the third spot in 1:03:59 and picked up US$75.
The organisers of the race, Bulawayo Athletics Board chairman Watson Wadenyika said 500 athletes took part in the race.
“The attendance was good. We had 500 athletes who participated in the races. We had athletes from all over the country. The event went on very well. We did not have any casualties. We are happy and would like to thank ZB Bank for bringing the race to Bulawayo. These events make our athletes stay fit and qualify for international events like the Olympics. Athletes will have more practice. The weather was also very favourable today,” Wadenyika said.