Online Reporter
Lovemore Dube [email protected]
BLANKET Mine athletes dominated the Zimbabwe School of Mines Marathon in Bulawayo yesterday morning.
Lucky Munsaka was the toast of the travelling Gwanda Mine roadrunners when he won the 42.2km main race in a time of 2 hours 27 minutes 07 seconds.
While not ranking among the most noticeable of marathoners, Munsaka has won back-to-back marathons, the Great Zimbabwe in 2024 and 2025.
He was followed to the finishing line by Zimbabwe Republic Police’s John Mbayira in 2 hours 28 minutes 04 seconds, with AFC’s Gamuchirai Tsweta third in 2 hours 28 minutes 05 seconds as they provided fans with a spectacle, sprinting to a near photo-finish.
The women’s race went to Phillipa Dube, who clocked 3 hours 15 minutes 16 seconds. She runs for Blanket Mine and had a near five-minute gap with the second independent runner, Rudo Mhondewa, who finished second in 3 hours 20 minutes 36 seconds.
Blanket Mine provided another podium finish in the longer marathon with Anne Chirisa third in 3 hours 20 minutes 37 seconds.
Mthokozisi Mhlanga, Blanket Mine’s rising 21,1km runner, bagged another gold medal, adding to his Cimas Half Marathon title when he romped to another victory over the distance. He crossed the line in 1 hour 07 minutes 35 seconds.
He relegated Kenyan athlete Isaac Langat, who runs for local club Mr Pace, to second place in 1 hour 10 minutes 48 seconds in an event run in windy and chilly conditions.
White Lion Athletics Club’s Israel Mudimba was third in 1 hour 16 minutes 28 seconds.
Angela Moyo of Army Club, Black Rhinos, broke the mine’s dominance of the main races with a first place finish in the women’s 21,1km, racing to a time of 1 hour 33 minutes 47 seconds.
Ethel Pangiso, who was a pre-race favourite, finished second in 1 hour 36 minutes 01 seconds, closely followed by ZRP teammate Thobekile Ncube in 1 hour 36 minutes 27 seconds.
In the men’s wheelchair category, Elford Moyo was first in the 21,1km competition and clocked 54 minutes 15 seconds, followed by Racers teammate Chrispen Mperewere in 55 minutes 20 seconds and independent wheeler Godknows Dziripi in 55 minutes 50 seconds.
Margaret Bangajena continued with her usual podium position finishes, winning the women’s 21,1km wheelchair contest in 1 hour 20 minutes 26 seconds. She competes for Racers.
The Zvishavane duo of Molene Muza and Ratidzo Tomu were second and third respectively in 1 hour 23 minutes 37 seconds and 1 hour 24 minutes 26 seconds.
Brave Moyo completed a good morning for the Gwanda mine in the men’s 10km event with a time of 31 minutes 29,4 seconds ahead of the duo of Mthabisi Moyo (32 minutes 15,8 seconds) and Isiaah Ncube in 32 minutes 41,5 seconds respectively.
Peris Logokan of Mr Pace won the women’s 10km race in 37 minutes 26,8 seconds.
Nicholas Nyengerai, the 1995 Zimbabwe All-Africa Games marathon winner, scooped the grand master honours in the 42,2km, followed by Abednigo Mabhena.
Both athletes are 66 years old, with Nyengarai 19 days older.
Edwin Gwaze, the Zimbabwe School of Mines principal, was happy with the turnout and corporate support.
He said they hope to see the event grow to the magnitude of the Econet Victoria Falls Marathon so that in the region they are the biggest.
With over a thousand athletes taking part, Gwaze is hopeful that with each passing year, numbers will grow.
Bulawayo Athletics Board chairman, Watson Madanyika, praised the School of Mines for supporting the event, keeping Zimbabwe athletes active.
He was particularly happy with the event attracting athletes from Kenya as well.
