Online Reporter
Innocent Kurira, Zimpapers Sports Hub
BULAWAYO turned into a buzzing river of runners on Sunday morning, as the third edition of the Zimbabwe School of Mines (ZSM) Marathon lit up the city with energy, colour and fierce competition.
From elite athletes chasing glory to amateurs just soaking in the vibe, over 600 runners took part across four distances, the 42,2km full marathon, 21,1km half-marathon, 10km road race and a 5km fun run, all starting and finishing at Khumalo Hockey Stadium.
But it was the full marathon that stole the show.
In a gritty solo run to the line, John Payarira claimed top honours in the men’s 42,2km race, stopping the clock at 2:24:17. He outpaced Peter Tumbare (2:27:24) and Mark Katiyo (2:30:53) to seal the win.
“I’ve been working hard for this, and I’m glad the training paid off,” said a beaming Payarira after the race.
In the women’s marathon, Philipa Dube proved just as dominant, powering to victory in 3:27:37 and holding off Annie Chirisa (3:35:56), who ran a strong second.
“It was a good race. The terrain was good and there were enough water points. It was basically a good race,” said Dube.
The half-marathon also produced its share of fireworks. Andrew Dube clocked 1:08:25 to win the men’s 21km race ahead of Thabo Mapfumo (1:13:40).
In the women’s wheelchair division, Stella Jongwe claimed gold with a time of 1:28:26, while Ethel Pangiso won another category in 1:41:26.
The 10km contests were fast and frantic. Andrew Ndlovu edged a tight men’s field with 25:25, just ahead of Orlando Mandanyara (25:38) and Mthokozisi Mhlanga (25:43). In the women’s race, Bonakele Nkomo was unstoppable, storming home in 34:30, followed by Nozipho Dube (38:55) and Sipho Sibanda (44:37).
Bulawayo Athletics Board (BAB) chairperson Watson Madanyika hailed the fast-growing event.
“This event is quickly becoming a cornerstone of the Bulawayo athletics calendar. The performances we saw today reflect the depth of talent we have in this country,” he said.
Initially launched as a half-marathon in 2023, the ZSM Marathon expanded into a full 42,2km race last year to mark the institution’s 90th anniversary. It has since grown into one of the city’s premier running events, drawing attention from competitive and social runners alike.
ZSM Principal Edwin Gwaze said the rising interest was a sign of better things to come.
