derick.khumalo
Lovemore Dube
[email protected]
BLANKET Mine’s resurgence in sport in Matabeleland South got a big endorsement when its athletes dominated the Zimbabwe School of Mines Marathon run in Bulawayo yesterday morning.
The mine is also doing well in football where the soccer team is among title contenders in the Central Soccer League. They have reached the Munhumutapa Challenge Cup first round of 32 clubs.
Lucky Munsaka was the toast of the traveling 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 coming 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 almost had a five-minute gap between her and 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 a 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.
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.
