adminMzingaye Sibanda Sports Reporter
THE time set by Kudakwashe Shoko in the Old Mutual 10KM Nkulumane Fun Run in 1999 has proved hard to beat. A number of questions have been raised. Has the quality of the field lost its glitter? Is the distance athletes are running the same or there have been alterations on the course? Sunday’s winner Cuthbert Nyasango failed to beat the 27 minutes 33 seconds mark set in 1999. The national track record for 10,000m is 27 minutes 37seconds set by Tendai Chimusasa in 1993 in Germany. Several impressive fields have since failed to come close to the time set by Shoko in the Nkulumane Fun Run as the best after the one set by Nyasango on Sunday.
Nyasango who holds the national marathon record clocked 29 minutes 24,63 seconds on his way to claim the $1,000 prizemoney from Old Mutual.
Nyasango holds records in the 20KM, 30KM, 35KM, 40KM, Half Marathon and Marathon but he was not close to the time set by Shoko in the inaugural event 15 years ago.
Juwawo won the event in 30 minutes 14,89 seconds last year and in 29 mintes 50,3 seconds a year before. Bulawayo Athletics Board chairman Manuel Mpofu said the standard of competition had gone down tremendously compared to previous years because of poor domestic competitions as a result of low sponsorships. Sparrows Athletics Club coach Vusimuzi Mlilo said the route used might be a factor.
derick.khumalo
Online Reporter