The Sunday News
Ngqwele Dube, Sports Correspondent
ATHLETES who will take part in the Nkulumane Half Marathon today will get more accurate times as electronic timing will be introduced for the first time.
Bulawayo Athletics Board chairman, Manuel Mpofu said Old Mutual have engaged South African timing company, Finish Time to ensure more accurate timing.
He said they are excited about the new developments as they elevate the status of the race while giving athletes an opportunity to qualify for other tournaments on the back of electronically captured times.
“Electronic timing will be introduced for the first time this year following the addition of 21km half marathon to the Nkulumane race.
“The transponder timing system motivates athletes to clock good times which might qualify them for major competitions in the region or beyond,” said Mpofu.
The event was previously a fun run incorporating only the 5km and 10km road races but this year the organisers opted to introduce the half marathon to expand it.
Mpofu said just over 500 athletes had registered for the race by midday yesterday while registration closed four hours later.
At the time, he said they were confident of reaching their target of registering 1000 athletes after getting 1300 runners last year but there were no registration fees while this year’s entry fee has been pegged at $5.
Top athletes that had registered by midday yesterday were the men’s 10km defending champion Caniciuos Nyamutsva, women’s 10km defending champion, Bertha Chikanga, Wellington Varewi , Elijah Mabhunu, Patience Garauzive, wheelchair racer, Elford Moyo, Margrate Bangajena and Ratidzo Tom.
Mpofu urged residents of Tshabalala, Nkulumane and Pumula South to cheer the athletes as they pass through their suburbs.
Sponsors, Old Mutual have set aside $10 300 for this year’s rebranded marathon with prizes being doled out in 14 categories.
Winners of the half marathon open race in both the male and female categories are set to walk away with $700 each while the second and third runners to cross the finish line will get $500 and $300 respectively. Fourth and fifth placed runners will take home $250 and $200.
Last year Nyamutsa completed the 10km race ahead of Kadoma-based Jacob Mugomeri of Zimpost, who came second and Misheck Sithole was third while in the women’s section, Chikanga was first with Rudo Mhondero coming second and third place went to Patience Garauzive.
Old Mutual, who support big races in South Africa such as the Two Oceans Marathon and the Comrades, also bankroll the Vumba half marathon, Chitungwiza 10km fun run and Westgate half marathon in Zimbabwe.
