The Sunday News
Mehluli Sibanda, Senior Sports Reporter
A NEW race has been added to the Econet Victoria Falls Marathon scheduled for 1 July with the Steward Bank Team Relay Challenge being included.
Deborah Harrison, the sponsorship consultant for the Econet Victoria Falls Marathon said the brand new addition to annual event gives an opportunity to those not keen on running the half marathon or the 7,5km. For the Steward Bank Team Relay Challenge, corporates and Teams are encouraged to enter as a team of two runners. Each runner has to complete approximately half the distance (10,5km) to make up a combined distance of a 21km half marathon. Teams can be mixed or all males or all females.
“It is brand new, it is called the Steward Bank Team Relay Challenge — prizes will be given to the fastest mixed team, the fastest female only team and the fastest male team. We are hoping the Relay will allow people who would like to do more than the Fun Run but less than the half marathon the opportunity to participate and create a great team vibe and comradely to the event,’’ Harrison said.
According to information provided by Harrison, 2 232 athletes registered online with more expected to enter the different races at Kingdom Hotel on Friday and Saturday.
The races on offer on the day are the 42km, 21km, 7,5km and the Steward Bank Relay Challenge. Winners of the marathon will walk away with $900 each for the male and female, the runners up $750, $450 will go to the third placed athletes while those fifth will pocket $300. Prizes are given to position 10 with the total prize package being $7 1150.
For the half marathon, $500 is in store for the male and female winner, $350 for second place, $300 for third, $250 for fourth and $150 for the fifth placed athletes. There are prizes up to tenth position with the total package standing at $3 850.
Zambian Matthews Mutanya became the first foreigner to win the Econet Victoria Falls Marathon when he romped to victory at Victoria Falls Primary School in a time of two hours, 21:32 seconds ahead of Zimbabwean veteran Mike Fokoroni who hit the finish line in two hours, 22:16 seconds while another local Lyno Muchena came third in a time of two hours, 22:24 seconds. Fokoroni was also the best veteran male finisher in the race.
In the women’s category, seasoned Tabitha Tsatsa showed the youngsters how it is done when she won the 42,2km marathon.
Tsatsa, who also took the female veteran prize, finished the race in two hours, 57:06 seconds ahead of Lizih Chokore whose time was three hours, 01:02 seconds with another veteran Samukeliso Moyo third in three hours, 03:57 seconds.
In the 21,2km half marathon, Robson Chigara was the men’s winner in one hour, 06:02 seconds, followed by Munyaradzi Jari in one hour, 06:25 seconds with Jacob Mugomeri third three seconds later.
Patience Garauziye was the women champion in one hour, 21:03 seconds, closely followed by Constance Nyasango 18 seconds later while Chiyedza Chokore took third in one hour, 24:46 seconds.
In 2017, 2 675 took part in the three races on offer on the day, 342 for the full marathon, 1 454 in the half marathon and 879 in the 7.5km fun race. That was an improvement from 2016’s turnout of 2 200.
@Mdawini_29
