The Sunday News
Ngqwele Dube, Sports Correspondent
OVER 300 runners are expected to be at the start line this morning in the annual Hope Fountain 30km race that takes off from the Centenary Park.
Registration closed last night with 255 runners having been registered by midday and more athletes had been expected to troop in. Bulawayo Athletics Board (Bab) chairman Manuel Mpofu said they were expecting a last-minute rush as entrants from outside the city arrive to register.
“We have registered 255 runners so far but as you are aware there is usually a late rush and I think the number is going to pass the 300 mark. All is set for the race and we are just finalising the preparations. Water points will be evenly distributed to hydrate athletes taking into account the hot weather conditions we are currently experiencing,” he said.
The Rotary Club of Belmont-organised race will see adults compete in the 30km race while juniors are battling it out in the 7,5km run. The main race will kick off at 6am at the Centenary Park with the 7,5km fun walk starting 30 minutes later. The finishing point is at Hillside Dams. Mpofu said this year’s theme is “Eradicate Polio” and proceeds from the race will go towards the eradication of polio.
The winners of the main race in the men and women’s categories will pocket $1 000 each with the first runner-up getting $750 and second runner-up will go home $500 richer.
The veterans, masters and grandmasters categories top three are set to get $500, $400 and $200 respectively, a similar amount that will be awarded to the three athletes that emerge ahead of the pack in the wheelchair section. The junior athletes in the Under-20 men and women’s categories are set to pocket prizes of $400 for the winner, $300 for the second-placed runner and $200 for the athlete that comes third.
“The Hope Fountain race presents a challenging course and most athletes take part in order to prepare for other forthcoming races. The terrain is good and stretches runners,” said Mpofu.
Meanwhile, Bab will host the Track and Field Championships on 24 November at White City Stadium.
The Liquor Hub Fun Run in December will bring down the curtain on the 2019 athletics calendar, which started in January.
