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Lovemore Dube Sports Editor
FIREWORKS are expected in the Econet Victoria Falls Marathon to be run in the resort town tomorrow morning with a number of big names set to take part. The organisers have been tightlipped on the names of the athletes but a good field with an international flavour is expected. The Victoria Falls Marathon is one of two road races still left in the region for long distance athletes. They have to endure with going for months without any activity.
Going across the Limpopo River for races does not come on a silver platter. The athletes have to pay for clearances and travel and seek accommodation in the neighbouring country, a lucrative sanctuary for those with the talent.
Nkosiyazi Sibanda of Blanket Mine, last year’s winner in the men’s category is expected to dominate the field. He knows the route well having run there a couple of times. He is a fantastic marathon runner who should give his opponents a good run for their money tomorrow morning.
Wirimai Juwawo, Innocent Chimbidzikayi, Michael Ngaaseke, Collin Makaza, Prodigal Khumalo, Sipho Ncube, Maxwell Bangani, George Majaji and Kingstone Maringe could be some of the top finishers.
With South Africa still to run the Soweto Marathon and the City to City races, this could be a perfect opportunity for those keen on the big purses to come and have a run along to prepare for the races.
In the 21km event, Pathisa Ngwabi of Hwange could face good competition from Nicholas Mugoveri and Jonathan Chinyoka of the Zimbabwe Prison Services.
In the women’s category the all familiar faces of Samukeliso Moyo, Munodaani Chadambuka, Lizzie Chokore, Margaret Mahohoma, Sharon Tawengwa, Tawapo Biri and Monica Kativhu could provide for a good race and competition if they come in numbers. Rangarirai Mberi of Econet assured athletes good prizes.
He however, could not be drawn into disclosing what the winners are getting.
The race is an International Association of Athletics Federations accredited competition with winners qualifying for international major competitions like the World Championships.
Tendai Tagara, the Zimbabwe athletics boss recently told this paper that the qualifying standard for this year’s World Championships is 2 hour 18 minutes.
Already qualified are Cuthbert Nyasango and Juwawo who finished in the Olympics’ first 20 last year.
The runners tomorrow will have qualifying as one of their targets. It would be special to make the grade on home soil.
In the past athletes have had to go to foreign soils to seek qualifying standards.
Women will have to run the marathon in 2 hours 41 minutes or less to qualify.
The Botswana Tourism Board has also come on board alongside Tanganda, Victoria Falls Safari Lodge, The Kingdom Hotel and Zimbabwe Tourism Authority to sponsor the race.
Athletes will run into Zambia and back to Victoria Falls and part of the Zambezi National Park.
The biggest attraction to the race is running past wildlife which is abundant on the Zimbabwe end with elephants, buffaloes, warthog, zebra and impala among the most visible animals on a good morning.
Online Reporter