The Sunday News
Ngqwele Dube, Sports Correspondent
OLD Mutual Nkulumane Fun Run last year’s winners, Wirimai Juwawo (men) and Patience Murova (women) are set to defend their titles after registering to take part in this year’s race that explodes into life at Nkulumane Shopping Complex this morning.
Both the 10km and 5km races start at 7am. Juwawo and Murova are set to lead a stellar cast of athletes that include Isaac Mpofu, who recently won the JM Busha 42km race in Harare, Cuthbert Nyasango, Rutendo Nyahora, Constance Nyasango, Faith Nyasango, Nkosiyazi Sibanda, Olivia Chitate, Nkosiyazi Sibanda and Phathisa Ngwabi.
Bulawayo Athletics Board (Bab) chairman Manuel Mpofu said they are confident of reaching their target of 1 000 runners with 700 having registered by 10am yesterday.
He said the race has attracted wide interest with athletes from as far afield as Mutare, Bindura and Marondera.
“We are glad we are going to see increased numbers at the starting point tomorrow as we have registered just over 700 athletes but we expect the late rush to see the figure surge to between 900 and 1 000. Athletes from Mutare are already on their way while those in Harare managed to register in the capital as we had a registration centre there this year,” he said, adding last year 730 athletes took part in the race.
The fun run is being sponsored to the tune of $8 500 by Old Mutual and winners in both the men’s and women’s 10km will each pocket $500, while runners up will get $400, and the third, fourth and fifth place finishers walking away with $300, $250 and $200 respectively.
In the 10km junior race, winners will take home $100, runners-up $80, third place ($60), fourth ($40) and fifth ($20).
The winner in the 10km veterans’ category will get $300, runners-up $200, while the winners and runners-up in the masters’ race will get $200 and $100 respectively. The grandmasters’ winners will get $200 and the second fastest $100.
Winners of the 10km wheelchair races will take home $400, while the second and third best will pocket $300 and $200. Winners in the 5km races will get $150 and the second and third finishers will walk away with $100 and $50.
Old Mutual Property general manager Gilbert Gumpo said this year’s race coincides with the launch of the massive Nkulumane and Pumula South housing development which is meant to ease the urban housing pressures and bring more footfall to the mall.
Gumpo said apart from the race, which will be broadcast live on Skies Metro FM, there will be entertainment from seasoned DJs, children’s games, water slides and jumping castles.
Last year, Juwawo came first in the 10km race in 30 minutes 18 seconds followed by Jacob Mugomeri, in 30 minutes 22 seconds and Kelvin Pangiso came third in 30 minutes 34 seconds. In the women’s category, Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Services (ZPCS) athlete Murova clocked 36 minutes 15 seconds, while ZRP’s Olivia Chitate was second in 36 minutes 41 seconds and independent runner, Chiedza Chokore was third in 37 minutes 06 seconds.
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