adminNgqwele Dube Sports Correspondent
ALL is in place for today’s PPC Matopos 33-Miler Ultra-marathon with over 400 athletes having registered to take part in the race. Bulawayo Athletics board chairman Manuel Mpofu said preparations for the race have gone well and they expect tight competition from the country’s top athletes. He said the race had managed to attract most of the top runners with defending champion Lyno Muchena declaring his intention to retain the crown.
“Over 400 athletes have registered for the competition and we have the defending champions Lizzy Chikore and Muchena expressing their readiness to shrug off challenges and retain their titles. The race has become one of the top races in the country and it has again attracted the top runners in the country,” said Mpofu.
Muchena won last year’s gruelling race in three hours 13 minutes 59 seconds, getting the better of Andrew Chimbidzikai and Leonard Koki who came second and third respectively in three hours 14 minutes 14 seconds and three hours 16 minutes 34 seconds.
Other top athletes at today’s race include the Half-Marathon defending champion Jacon Mugomeri, Kevin Pangiso, Jonathan Chinyoka, Millen Matende, Samkeliso Moyo, Cephas
Pasipamire, Monica Katizo, Allen Magwere, Wirimai Zhuwawo, Koki and Trust Chidomaya.
The prizes for this year’s race have been raised with the winners of the full marathon set to walk away with $850 each, $100 more than what Muchena and Chikore took home last year.
Second placed athletes will pocket $600 with bronze medalists getting $400.
Winners of the veterans, masters and relay races will each take home $250 with second position being awarded $200 and third placed getting $150.
The top three in the half marathon will get $400, $275 and $200 respectively.
The full marathon and relay starting point will be at the Moth Shrine in Matopos National Park while the half marathon kicks off at Woolandale Road along Matopos Road and the fun run will begin at Hamilton High School with the finishing point for all races being at Bulawayo Athletic Club.
The race is bank-rolled by cement manufacturer, Pretoria Portland Cement.
Online Reporter