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Ngqwele Dube, Sports Correspondent
BLACK Rhinos runner, Andrew Chimbidzikai, lived true to his words when he successfully defended his title in the PPC Matopos 33-Miler, seeing off the challenge of Nkosiyazi Sibanda as well as Peter Tumbare by seconds to keep the trophy.
Chimbidzikai had declared ahead of the competition that he was ready to retain his crown as he certified himself “super fit” after undergoing what he termed a rigorous exercise in the Eastern Highlands before the race.
The Black Rhinos long distance runner reached the finishing line in three hours 12 minutes 22 seconds, a second better than the time he posted last year while Sibanda came in one second behind him with third placed Tumbare coming in two seconds later in the men’s open category.
Chimbidzikai was elated with the win saying hard work coupled with strength is needed to conquer in the tough race.
“This time around I went to train in Nyanga, which I believe is the toughest terrain, for one month and two weeks and added with my experience and knowledge of the route I told myself I will take on my competitors and give them a hard time.
“It was a tough race that was not easy to win and what worked is the mind and tactics. I had to fight very hard in the last stretch keeping pace of my competitors Tumbare and Sibanda. We were running together but I maintained my pace and when the opportunity arose in the last 100m I managed to outsprint them,” he said, adding he was happy to defend his title.
For his efforts, the Black Rhinos runner walked away RTGS $3 000 richer while second placed Sibanda of Blanket Mine won RTGS$2 250 and Tumbare, who is from the Air Force of Zimbabwe, went home with RTGS$1 500.
In the women’s section, Nedbank’s Chiedza Chokore also managed to retain her title but in a massive way as she managed to improve on last year’s time of four hours nine minutes 10 seconds and this year crossed the finishing line in three hours 57 minutes 17 seconds.
Muchaneta Gwata was a distant second in four hours 22 minutes and 53 seconds while Monica Kativhu was third in a time of four hours 24 minutes 06 seconds.
Chokore said she found this year’s terrain much easier adding she had trained well for the race.
“There is no substitute for training and I trained well this year which made it easy for me to come first. I had tough competition from my friend Muchaneta but I managed to shrug her off,” she said.
In the 21km men’s open, Moses Tarakinyu beat last year’s winner, Moses Sithole to the finishing line in a time of one hour 04 minutes 37 seconds while the latter came in 22 seconds later. Tendai Zimuto was third in one hour 05 minutes 37 seconds.
Caroline Mhandu was the women half marathon champion when she reached the finishing line in one hour 14 minutes 32 seconds to clinch the title while Bertha Chikanga was second two seconds later and Rudo Mhondera was third in one hour 17 minutes 50 seconds.
Bulawayo Athletics Board chairman, Manuel Mpofu said this year’s race saw an increase in the number of participants taking part to 3 500.
“Last year we had 2 500 and this year there were just above 3 500 athletes who took part in the race. The number of participants has grown steadily over the years since we revived it six years ago and this can be attributed to great organisation and marketing on the part of PPC. This year the prize money was also enticing for professional athletes as they are one of the best and shows they value the efforts athletes put in when they are training for the race,” he said.
PPC Zimbabwe acting managing director Marvelous Sibanda presented the athletes with their accolades together with the company’s business development manager, Roger Steyn, marketing officer Kudakwashe Nyagwaya and Bab boss Mpofu.
Bongani Ndlovu
Online Reporter