The Sunday News
Dalphyne Tagwireyi
ECONET will use this year’s edition of the Victoria Falls marathon to promote healthy lifestyles through its micro-insurance brand, Ecosure.
The mobile telecommunications giant bankrolls the Econet Victoria Falls Marathon and this year’s edition will also have $11 000 in prize money for both the marathon and half marathon.
Econet corporate brand officer Bhekimpilo Ntini said the 7km fun run, which had no prize money, would this year be sponsored by Ecosure.
“We are pleased to inform participants that this year the fun run will be sponsored by Ecosure hence prizes will be awarded to excelling competitors,” said Ntini.
He revealed that preparations for the annual event, which will be held in the resort town of Victoria Falls on 28 June, started as early as last November.
“The annual race, which is fast-reaching iconic status, has seen a tremendous increase in numbers and organisers and sponsors plan for an even stronger demand, the buzz around the marathon has been felt on the international scale with runners in 2014 coming from as far afield as Australia, USA, Canada and neighbouring South Africa,” he said.
Over the years, the race has continued to get international recognition as it is a qualifying event for the region’s top ultra-marathons, the Comrades and Two Oceans which are both held in South Africa.
“Registrations for the 2015 Econet Victoria Falls Marathon (42km), Half Marathon(21km) and 7km Fun Run are underway, giving a chance to runners to secure their spot on the starting line for the June race,” said Ntini.
“We pioneered the race in a bid to encourage a healthy lifestyle amongst our subscribers, as there have been high incidences of non-communicable diseases such as hypertension, diabetes, epilepsy, asthma, cancer and cataracts amongst others.”
Ntini disclosed that notable celebrities expected to grace this year’s marathon include Kirsty Coventry and Tendai “The Beast” Mtawarira.
Nkosiyazi Sibanda won the competition a record fourth time last year after he crossed the line in a time of 2 hours 21minutes and 40seconds in the 42km race.
In the women’s race, Monica Kativhu improved on her fourth place 2013 finish to win the title in 3hr 8mins 21secs last year.
The winner of last year’s men and women’s marathon each pocketed $800, $675 for the second-placed athletes, $500 for third spot, $400 went to the fourth-placed athletes, $300 for position five, the sixth-placed athlete was awarded $200, while $150 went to the seventh placed athlete.
The eighth-placed athletes each pocketed $100, ninth-placed $75, while the tenth-placed athlete walked away with $50. Men and women athletes who crossed the line first in the half-marathon each got $450, runners-up $325, third-placed $250, $200 for the fourth-placed athlete, the fifth-placed athlete was awarded $150, sixth-placed $125, $100 for position seven, $75 for position eight, $50 for position nine and $25 for position 10.
Participation fees for the fun run is $3, half marathon is $10 and full marathon is $10 for Zimbabwean citizens, Zimbabwe Residents/Botswana & Zambia Citizens pay $20 and international participants pay $40 for the marathon and half marathon respectively.
