ZB BANK, Proton and NedBank on Sunday joined hands with the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority in hosting the Chivero Rhino Run.
The event was held Lake Chivero Recreational Park with participants taking part in 5km, 10km and 21km races.
This was the third edition of the run and it attracted some of the country’s top long-distance runners, with more than 1 000 people taking part in the event.
The winners walked away with US$100 and Parks Authority shields.
Caroline Mhandu won the women’s 21km race ahead of Miriam Sibanda and Patricia Chikambura who were second and third places, respectively.
The men’s 21km race was won by Tawanda Bvunzawabaya, with Isaac Lingard coming in second ahead of Prosper Murwira in third.
Tafadzwa Marume hit the ribbon first in the 10km race, pipping Evans Mapachike and Maxwell Nyengerai into second and third.
The women’s 10km run was won by Tinotenda Runesu, who beat Sarudzai Chinjota and Emiria Manjoro.
Mhandu said she enjoyed the race.
“The race was good and I was so excited to see different animals while running,” she said.
“I’m hoping that next year, there will be more races and the sponsors will be able to pay the top 10 winners.”
The first edition was held in 2021 under the theme, Awareness and Appreciation of Domestic Tourism, and sponsored by Ecotourism Africa.
Bvunzawabaya, who won the main event of the men’s runs, admitted that he struggled running in the dusty road.
“I was not expecting to finish in that time because I was running in a dusty road and it was not easy, but I managed to make it,” he said.
The proceeds from the event will go towards wildlife conservation.