adminLovemore Dube Senior Sports Editor
BULAWAYO lad Daniel Rowland yesterday won the gruelling 230KM Jungle Ultra Marathon in Peru, beating an international field in 16 hours 52 minutes 20 seconds. It was his second victory in the last eight months having won another challenge in one of Africa’s most rugged and treacherous terrains — the Kalahari Desert.
The Zimbabwean was very consistent throughout the many challenging stages of the race to hold his nerve for a deserved win.
Rowland was followed to the finishing line by Xavi Marina of Spain whose accumulated time was 18 hours 37 minutes 29 seconds. His countryman Tony Andrades was third in 19 hours 16 minutes 29 seconds.
Rowland started the race on a high winning the opening stage in 3 hours 38 minutes with Edwin Snippe second while third place went to Mario Srnik 33 minutes later. It was over a distance of 38km.
The second stage was over 34km that Rowland won in 3 hours 17 minutes. Fabienne Nazarian was second in 3 hours 35 minutes. Third was Edwin Snippe in 3 hours 48 minutes.
Athletes ran through the Manu National Park and Villa Carmen Biological Reserve.
Athletes endured 100 percent humidity, stifling heat and insects and spiders on most of the trees that they were grabbing for balance.
Rowland capped a fine race finishing second in the final stage of the competition – a 92KM distance – in 10 hours 09 minutes behind Marina who won in 9 hours 48 minutes.
The Jungle Ultra is a 230KM race where competitors have to carry all their gear and food and encounter numerous challenges both on the terrain and in the wildlife in the jungle. The entry field is small – not many are up to the rigours of such extreme events.
Rowland’s outstanding feat has underlined the talent in the country.
His father, Jonathan Rowland said his son had done well to show the rest of the world the quality of athletes in Zimbabwe.
“It acts as a wonderful inspiration for other youngsters to go out to the world and test the best. Determination, training and self belief have pushed him to achieve at this level,” said Jonathan.
Daniel attended Christian Brothers College.
He is a financial analyst who qualified from the University of Cape Town but decided to take a sabbatical to pursue adventure running.
He is now based in Chile where he does adventure racing.
Online Reporter