The Sunday News
Ricky Zililo/Ngqwele Dube, Sports Reporters
ZIMBABWE Prisons and Correctional Services (ZPCS) road-runner Lyno Muchena won the PPC sponsored Matopos 33-Miler in three hours 13 minutes and 50 seconds to walk away with a cool $1 000.
Muchena, who was fifth in last year’s race overcame a “technical hiccup” that saw the leading vehicle taking a wrong turn along the route in Matopos National Park, turning left along Circular Drive heading towards Maleme Dam instead of proceeding straight. The lead vehicle driven by a man only identified as Wonder, led the leading group of 31 runners on a wrong route. The diversion from the actual route saw athletes running for about 16km before reaching a dead end.
The lost leading pack had to be “catapulted” to the front, squeezing in the leading vehicle which left them outside the Matopos National Park gate, approximately 30km from the finishing point, where they resumed the race.
However, nine athletes, Bruce Mathe, Allen Magwere, Rorisang Nyathi, Fixson Rukanga, Blessing Silent, Farai Mukuwa, Tawanda Gweshe, Yangu Chiungudza and Emmanuel Toperesu withdrew from the race after failing to squeeze into the leading vehicle. The nine were reimbursed their $10 registration fees.
Bulawayo Athletics Board (Bab) who failed to provide a technical person to be in the leading vehicle as well as route markers took the flake for the boob.
“We take all the blame for what happened when the athletes got lost. The problem is that we had challenges with personnel and thought that since the driver of the leading car was familiar with course he wasn’t going to get lost. Failing to provide route markers was an oversight and we hope to fix that in the next event. We’re happy with the turnout, we had 1 080 participants which is almost double of what we had last year,” said Bulawayo Athletics Board chairman Manuel Mpofu.
Lack of a communication system among the organisers hampered the quick recalling of the lost lead vehicle as there was no mobile network in the Matopos Park with people manning one of the water points failing to contact the driver of the lead car.
Concerns were also raised by athletes over overcrowded buses that transported the runners from City Hall to the starting points, with only one bus available for each race. The organisers apologised to the athletes and promised a better showing next year.
Despite the early race setback, the race lived up to its billing.
Muchena got the better of Zimbabwe National Army athlete Andrew Chimbidzikai and Airforce of Zimbabwe’s Peter Tumbare who came second and third respectively in three hours 14 minutes 49 seconds and three hours 15 minutes 22 seconds.
For being first and second runners-up, Chimbidzikayi pocketed $750 while Tumbare smiled home with $500. In the women’s category, defending champion Monica Kativhu came a distant third in four hours four minutes 49 seconds.
Lizzie Chokore won the women’s race after clocking four hours and 16 seconds. Veteran runner Samukeliso Moyo was second in four hours two minutes 49 seconds.
Results 33-Miler
Men: 1. Lyno Muchena (ZPCS, 3hrs 13mins 28sec); 2. Andrew Chimbidzikai (ZNA, 3hrs 14mins 49sec); 3. Peter Tumbare (Airforce of Zimbabwe, 3hrs 15mins 22sec)
Women: 1. Lizzie Chokore (City Meats, 4hrs 00mins 16sec), 2. Samukeliso Moyo (Power House, 4hrs 02mins 54sec), 3. Monica Kativhu (Hill Max, 4hrs 04mins 49sec)
Veteran Men: 1. Tapiwa Chingandi (ZPCS, 3hrs 22mins 18sec), 2. Elijah Mutandaro (Independent, 3hrs 22mins 58sec), 3. Nicholas Mugomeri, Independent, 3hrs 24mins 52sec)
Veteran Women: Samukeliso Moyo (Power House, 4hrs 02mins 54sec)
Masters: 1. Patrick Chipoyi (Nedbank, 3hrs 26mins 28sec), 2. Abednico Mabhena (Bulawayo Striders, 4hrs 52mins 11sec)
Half-Marathon (21.1km)
Men: 1. Misheck Sithole (Independent, 1hr 03mins 50sec); 2. Conscious Nyamutsamba (ZPCS, 1hr 04mins 46sec), 3. Jacob Mugomeri (Independent, 1hr 05mins 23sec
Women: 1. Chiedza Chokore (City Meats, 1hr 19mins 13sec), 2. Betha Chikanga (ZPCS, 1hr 19mins 26sec), 3. Tabitha Tsatsa (Power House, 1hr 23mins 54sec)
Wheelchair Men: 1. Elford Moyo (Danhiko, 1hr 03mins 47sec), 2. Samson Muroiwa (Zvishavane, 1hr 05mins 24sec), 3. Munyaradzi Katiyo (Independent, 1hr 10mins 48sec)
Wheelchair Women: 1. Margaret Bangajena (Danhiko, 1hr 20mins 16sec), 2. Moleen Majoni (Richmond, 1hr 21mins 06sec), 3. Thandiwe Ndlovu (Richmond, 1hr 21mins 26 sec)
-@ZililoR
