The Sunday News
Mehluli Sibanda, Senior Sports Reporter
ORGANISERS of the Econet Victoria Falls Marathon have extended the registration deadline for next month’s race by 10 days.
Entries for the race scheduled for 7 July were meant to have closed last Friday but with slots still available, those in charge of the event decided to lengthen the registration period up to 24 June. In a statement sent out last Friday, the organisers announced that the half-marathon is 70 percent sold out therefore entries will close soon as all the slots are taken up.
“We’ve got good news for runners who have not yet entered the 2019 Econet Victoria Falls Marathon. The race organisers have agreed to extend online entries for all events until 24 June. Please note the following: The half-marathon is more than 70% sold out — when it’s full we will close entries. Please do not wait until the last minute. Entries will be cut off when the limits are reached or at midnight on 24 June — whichever comes first,” said the directors.
They also stated in the event that there are still race numbers available after the close of registration, they will be put up for sale on a first come first serve basis.
“If there are still race numbers that have not been sold by 24 June, these will be available to purchase on a “first come first served” basis at number collection which will be held at the Kingdom Hotel in Victoria Falls on 5 and 6 July. We will advise how many entries will be available at registration on the website and social media closer to the time. No race numbers will be available on race day.”
Due to the fluctuation on the exchange rate, locals will be required to pay RTGS130 for the full and half-marathons as from tomorrow from the previous RTGS105 announced when the EcoCash payment option was reactivated on 1 June. The entry fee for the Steward Bank Corporate Relay will be increased to RTGS200 per team while those interested in running the 7,5km Fun Run have to part with RTGS40.
Entries are limited this year with the maximum figures being 800 for the full marathon, 1 850 for the half-marathon and 1 000 for the 7,5km fun run.
The organisers said they were limiting the numbers on route for both safety and security reasons in terms of the routes carrying capacity as they do not have full road closure. In addition, only a certain number of runners can cross the bridge at a time without causing a bottle neck.
In 2018, a total of 3 489 runners took part in the Econet Victoria Falls Marathon, these coming from over 54 countries. Zimbabwe had the highest number with 1 913. In fact the numbers could have been well over 4 000 but some of those who had pre-registered and paid did not fetch their race numbers.
