adminEllina Mhlanga Sports Reporter
LONG distance runners Point Chaza and Jonathan Chinyoka raised the country’s flag high when they won various races in Holland and South Africa recently. Chaza scooped gold medals in two of the three races he took part in. The 31-year-old competed in the Den Haag 22km race in which he came first in 1 hour 20 minutes and for his efforts he got 1 500 euro.
He then raced in the Holland half marathon and won the race in 1 hour 15 minutes to walk away with 1 000 euro.
In the Achmea 21km race, he finished fifth. Chaza said he is now targeting the Vumba 21km race this month and defending his title in the Mount Darwin marathon scheduled for next month.
“I competed in three races in Holland and it was tough. There were Kenyans competing and most of them are very fast runners.
“It was a tough competition, but I am very happy that I did my best and won. I had really trained for these races. I am now preparing for the Vumba 21km race and I am also targeting the Mount Darwin marathon. I won it last year in a time of 2 hours 19 minutes which is my personal best.
“Those are the two events remaining for this year, after that I will start training for the Comrades ultra marathon,” said Chaza.
His teammate, Chinyoka won the Durban 21km race and pocketed R5 000 in 1 hour 26 minutes.
Meanwhile, Cephas Pasipamire, who missed the World Championships in Moscow, Russia, in August when he picked up an injury two days before the race, is set to head back to Russia in December for an international race.
“I was disappointed to pick up the injury as I had hoped to compete among the top athletes from Kenya and Ethiopia, so I was really disappointed but when I came back home I went for the SARPCCO Games and I failed to finish the race,” said Pasipamire.
Online Reporter