AIRFORCE of Zimbabwe long distance athlete Peter Mutumbare powered to the finish line of the PPC Matopos 33 Miler in 3 hours 12 minutes 10 seconds, beating a strong field of athletes.
BY THANDIWE MOYO
This was the second time that Mutumbare participated in the PPC Marathon, where he beat veterans Leonard Koki who came in second in 3 hours 12 minutes 30 seconds and Oliver Kandiero who clocked 3 hours 17 minutes.
Mutumbare said the race went well for him, adding that he had prepared well.
“Last time, I did not prepare well for the race, but this time, I was well prepared. When it started, it was tough, but it got easier as we went,” he said.
“I managed to sprint in the last kilometre and I beat Koki.”
Mutumbare was not part of the leading pack when they reached the 21km marker, but leaders Nkosiyazi Sibanda, Koki and Vinel Moyo were down in the final stages.
Moyo was the first to drop from the pack before they reached the 21km mark, while Sibanda maintained stride with the rest of the leading pack.
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Sibanda, who was nursing an injury, said when he got to the river, he failed to maintain his stride and fell behind the leading pack and did not manage to finish the race.
Also making it into the top 10 were Kudakwashe Kandwa in fourth place, last year’s champion Lyno Muchena, Alfied Benhure, Point Chaza, Prosper Mutwira, Donald Kamudandu and Robert Mutandare in that order.
In the women’s category, Monica Kativhu, who won the race in 2013 and 2014 clocked four hours two minutes 45 seconds, which was about 29 minutes faster than last year’s four hours 31 minutes 39 seconds.
In second place was Tawapo Bhiri, while veteran road runner Samukeliso Moyo clocked four hours 54 minutes 11 seconds and young Linnet Tomu came fourth after crossing the finish line in five hours 45 minutes 29 seconds and Casey-Anne Marais.
