OLIVIA Chitate received an early Christmas gift as she retained the Liquor Hub 10km Fun Run senior women’s title on a warm morning in Bulawayo yesterday.
The race was sponsored to the tune of R50 000 by Bulawayo businessman Raj Modi who is also the deputy minister of industry and commerce.
Chitate of ZRP hit the ribbon in 36:18 minutes, failing to beat her record from last year of 34:45, having also grabbed gold in 2019 when she crossed the line in 35:19.
For winning the race she picked up R3 500 in prize money.
“I am very happy to win this race being the defending champion. I go to the off-season a happy person and we will start again next year. This was my last race,” Chitate said.
Caroline Mhande of ZPCS came second in the women’s category in 36:46 while Emmelia Mukungata of Mr Price picked bronze in 37:14 taking home R2 500 and R2 000 respectively.
Wellington Varevi of Black Rhinos was this year’s winner in the senior men’s category in a time of 28:40 beating Moses Tarakinyu’s 2021 record of 29:34 and he also walked away R3 500 richer.
“It was a good race. It was too hot but the terrain and the route were good. I was number six in the last race so it feels good winning this one. This is just part of training for the world cross country in February,” Varevi said.
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Munyaradzi Zizhou of Blanket Mine faltered at the end and could have easily beaten Varevi in the home stretch but came second four seconds later to pick up R2 500 cash.
Tarakinyu crossed the line in third on 29:13 and won R2 000.
In the junior’s men it was Munashe Mundare of Black Rhinos who managed 35:44 to take home R1 200 while the women’s section went to Lesedi Nkomo of City Meats also got the same amount after clocking 42:34.
Elford Moyo of Danhiko won the men’s wheelchair race in 27:08 and the women’s first prize went to Stella Jongwe who hit the ribbon in 35:27 and they were each rewarded with R1 500 in cash.
Proceeds from the race will benefit the elderly in the City of Kings courtesy of Modi, who last year bought air tickets for two children to undergo heart surgery in India.
Modi also facilitated their treatment in India.
Chairperson of the Bulawayo Athletics Board, Watson Madenyika was excited after the race.
“We had 190 participants, we are very happy and we would also like to thank the honourable deputy minister of industry and commerce (Modi) for his passion in supporting sport. He is keeping our athletes busy as you know that they are professionals who earn a living from running. They get the cash and also improve their times as they prepare for international competitions,” Madenyika said.
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