The Sunday News
Sports Reporter
DEFENDING champion Rutendo Nyahora is expected to lead a star studded field at the annual Nkulumane Choppies 10km race sponsored to the tune of R100 000 this morning.The competition was initially set for 7 December but was brought forward to avoid a clash with the African Union Sports Council Region 5 Youth Games which will run in Bulawayo from 5 December to 14 December.
The race starts at Nkulumane Choppies to Choppies Bellevue where the athletes will turn back, taking the same route to the starting point.
Bulawayo Athletics Board chairman Manuel Mpofu said they expected a lot of participants from outside Bulawayo who had shown interest.
“We are quite confident as a board that this race will produce quite a number of athletes who will be our representatives in the near future,” said Mpofu, who was full of praise for the continued sponsorship from Choppies.
“As BAB we appreciate the sponsorship that we are getting from the sponsors, we are grateful for what they are doing because the athletes are really benefiting,” he said.
Choppies marketing co-ordinator Trashmah Kazende said that they were excited to continue with their support for the event as it was part of their corporate social responsibility.
“We have other projects but it is intriguing when opportunities are given to amateur athletes and we urge other corporates to come on board and also support this initiative,” said Kazende.
Among some of the country’s top middle and long distance runners expected to take part in the event are Kelvin Pangiso, who is the men’s defending champion, Samukeliso Moyo, Sharon Tavengwa and Phathisa Ngwabi.
Middle-distance runner Nyahora successfully defended the title last year after she crossed the line in 35mins 17secs and should be eager to win it for the umpteenth time.
In 2012 she won it in 31mins 10secs while the previous year she completed the race in 32mins 41secs, she also won the Gutu Half Marathon clocking one hour 16mins 32,90secs earlier this month.
Winners in the seniors categorin both men and women’s categories will pocket R5 000 each, while runners-up will walk away with R3 000, third-placed athletes are expected to pocket R1 500 while those who will finish fourth will get R500 each.
In the juniors and wheelchair categories, winners will walk away R1 500 richer, with R1 000 in store for the runners-up while those who finish third will receive R750 each.
The Choppies 10km Race was known as Spar 10km Race until it was rebranded last year.
