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Collin Matiza Sports Editor
RUNNING as if on oiled wheels, one of Zimbabwe’s top ultra-distance runners Collen Makaza raised his country’s flag sky high when he won the 10th IAU 50km World Finals race in Doha, Qatar, at the weekend.
Four years after his first victory in the same event, the 34-year-old Mbare-born runner, who did his Primary and High School education in Bindura, showed a strong field of more than 500 international ultra-distance runners a clean pair of heels when he romped to victory in 3hours 41seconds and grabbed the winner’s cheque of US$2 000, a gold medal and a shield.
Makaza became a World Champion for the second time in his illustrious career after having won the same event in 2010 in Galway, Ireland, and followed this up with a second place finish in another IAU 50km World Finals race in Nice, France, in 2012.
And the bubbly Zimbabwean road runner regained the title he first won in 2010 by sweeping to victory in windy conditions in Doha.
Makaza, who still lives at Chishawasha Flats in Harare’s high-density suburb of Mbare, was over the moon on Friday after posting his latest sweet victory.
“It was a hard race which was paced by a Kenyan athlete who did not finish the race because of cramps. I maintained a good pace which the rest of the field failed to contend with.
“And with three laps to go, l started to push hard and I managed to cross the finish line first to be crowned the new world champ which is a great achievement in my career as a professional runner.
“I just want to thank my home club Zimbabwe Prison and Correctional Services Athletics Club, who cleared me to run in this race, and the National Athletics Association of Zimbabwe for their support. “Friday’s race was a 10-lap course and each lap measured 5km and for me it was crazy running in such a long distance at the same place but I managed to conquer and won the race in 3hours 41seconds. I’m now a new world 50km champ. Thank you Lord and to all who help me (in my career), thank you again,” Makaza told The Herald from Doha yesterday.
According to reports from Doha, conditions were even hotter than expected as temperatures hovered around 30°C, so times were generally slower than in previous editions of the World Trophy Final.
Makaza was joined by Great Britain’s Phil Anthony for the first 35km, but the 34-year-old Zimbabwean then opened up a one-minute gap over the Briton during the course of the next five kilometres.
Anthony made up a bit of ground in the last five miles, but it wasn’t enough to catch Makaza, who won in 3:00:41, 45 seconds ahead of Anthony.
“l believe the weather contributed to our poor times because the event was run during the night and it started at 6pm sharp and in windy conditions,” said Makaza, who is expected to return home on Wednesday.
Another Zimbabwean, female ultra-distance runner Precious Mukuza, took part in the same event in Doha on Friday night but she failed to last the distance, pulling out of the race due to a hamstring injury.
Results
Men
1. Collen Makaza (ZIM) 3:00:41
2. Phil Anthony (GBR) 3:01:26
3. Harm Sengers (NED) 3:05:01
4. Paul Marteletti (GBR) 3:11:05
5. Gary O’Hanlon (IRL) 3:14:35
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