Online Reporter
Lovemore Dube, Deputy Sports Editor
THE Bulawayo Athletics Board has expressed its satisfaction with preparations for this morning’s Zimbabwe School of Mines Marathon to start and finish at Khumalo Hockey Stadium.
Watson Madanyika the board chairman said everything had been thrown into thorough preparations to ensure the city athletics body organizes and manages a successful event.
The veteran administrator said his province always strives to give value to all stakeholders with smooth running events, be it track and field or road races.
Bulawayo Athletics Board is among the most active in the country with competitions and educational programmes run every month.
“We are ready for the marathon, preparations have gone well and we are confident of delivering another good event. We have worked with the owners of the event, the Zimbabwe School of Mines for a race which we believe will be a success,” said Madanyika.
The provincial chairman said over 800 athletes had as of late afternoon yesterday registered to run in the various categories of the competition.
“It’s quite a big field that we have, 800 athletes plus have registered and we look forward to a great day of Bulawayo and Zimbabwe roadrunning,” said Madanyika.
Among the notable names seen and confirmed registered for the event is marathon runner and 21.1km specialist Ethel Pangiso.
“Among the top athletes is Ethel Pangiso, in all the marathon (42.2km) has over 60 athletes that have registered to take part. It will be the first race of the day and will start at Khumalo Hockey Stadium with athletes running up to
Douglasdale before making a U-turn and running back to town to finish at Hockey Stadium,” said Madanyika.
Madanyika confirmed that for the 21.1km, 200 athletes had registered in both the men and women’s categories.
But the most subscribed category is the 10km in which over 300 athletes were confirmed to take to the starting line.
The 10km event has proved to be popular with fitness enthusiasts and serious runners (professionals) using it to prepare for major marathons abroad and in the Southern Africa region.
Zimbabwe is enjoying increasing numbers in people buying into wellness programmes hence big numbers now taking part in these events.
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