Online Reporter
Curtworth Masango-Zimpapers Sports Hub
ZIMBABWEAN long-distance runner Andrew Dick continued his purple patch on the regional circuit after powering to victory in the men’s 21.1km race at the 2026 Absa Marathon in Lusaka, Zambia, on Saturday.
The 28-year-old stopped the clock at 1:04:26 to take first place and pocket K25,000.His latest triumph came just six days after he won the Zimpost Mr Pace Half Marathon at Alexandra Sports Club in Harare in an impressive 1:01:46.
The Harare victory saw him beat Godwin Kalakura (1:02:29) and Blessing Waison (1:03:52).For Dick, the Lusaka success underlined what has been a productive 2026 season, which has also seen him make his presence felt beyond Zimbabwe’s borders.
“I am very happy with the performance in Zambia. I ran a good race and, most importantly, I managed to finish strongly,” said Dick.”Winning the Absa Half Marathon means a lot to me because you are competing against good athletes from different countries.
“I went there determined to represent Zimbabwe well and to fight for a good position. To come back home with first place gives me a lot of confidence.
“The season has been going well for me, but I still believe there is room for improvement. Every race teaches me something and the aim is to continue working hard and improving my times.”
The Absa Marathon, staged at the Lusaka Showgrounds, is a World Athletics-certified road race and attracts thousands of runners, including athletes from across the continent.
Dick’s regional exploits began with victory in the Sir Seretse Khama Half Marathon in Botswana in June, where he clocked 1:06:00 over 21.1km.
He said he followed that performance by winning the Botswana Life Half Marathon on 12 July, before finishing fourth at the Kit Kat Half Marathon in South Africa on 13 September.
“Winning races outside Zimbabwe is important for me because it gives me exposure and allows me to test myself against different athletes,” he said.
“Botswana was good for me and South Africa was also a learning experience. Now winning in Zambia shows that the hard work we are putting in is paying off.
“My target is to keep competing at a higher level. I don’t want to relax because of these victories. I want to continue pushing myself, improve my times and make Zimbabwe proud whenever I compete outside the country.
“Dick’s Lusaka triumph also capped a remarkable week after his dominant performance at the Zimpost Mr Pace race on 20 September.
