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Ellina Mhlanga-Senior Sports Reporter
ECONET Victoria Falls Marathon defending champion Jonathan Chinyoka reckons the event has grown over the years and is looking forward to an exciting race tomorrow.
The race attracts participants from across the globe, as much as it presents local athletes with a platform to showcase their talent at home.
Chinyoka is among the seasoned local athletes that are set to be part of the field tomorrow.
“I used to run 21km prior to winning the 42km race last year…It’s a big race in Zimbabwe and every year the standards and competition continue to improve. So if it continues like this it can actually help the upcoming athletes,” said Chinyoka.
Chinyoka, won the marathon last year but is not expecting much this time around having suffered a knee injury at his last race in South Africa, in February.
“I had an injury so it was a setback ahead of this race because I only started training about two months ago. So I just want to see if I have fully recovered because sometimes what you feel when training might be different when it comes to a race,” said Chinyoka.
In the women’s section the likes of Precious Makaza are also up for the challenge.
Makaza said after spending two years on the sidelines due to sickness she is going for top three.
“I have prepared for this race. It’s my first race this year and I am hoping to make the top three.
“I wasn’t feeling well. In 2021 and 2022 I did not compete in any race, so it’s been two years but I am okay and I am fit now.
“I have worked very hard for this race and I am excited to be back because at some point I thought it was over,” said Makaza.
Another seasoned runner and coach Kelvin Pangiso said with a huge turnout expected, they are expecting stiff competition.
“This year it’s likely to be a bit bigger because Nedbank (Running Club) are bringing a team, then individual athletes, Namibia are bringing a big team and Zambia are also bringing a big team. We have been talking with the coaches there. So I think this year it’s going to be bigger.
“This year it may be tough (for me) because I was injured in January, so I am just recovering and I only had two weeks of jogging because I had already registered for the race and as an athlete you just say let me go and try,” said Pangiso, who finished third last year.
Econet Wireless Zimbabwe, the headline sponsor of the marathon, says this year’s event has attracted a record number of participants, after it returned last year following a two-year Covid-induced hiatus.
“We are delighted and excited to inform all our visiting athletes and participants — from wherever they may be travelling from around the world and from Zimbabwe — that everything is now in place for the Econet Victoria Falls Marathon which will be held on Sunday (July 2, 2023),” said Econet Wireless Zimbabwe Group Chief Executive Officer, Douglas Mboweni, as he extended a special welcome to both local and international athletes.
Econet has been sponsoring the prestigious race since 2009, helping to make the event one of the most eagerly anticipated events on the global sporting calendar.
Winners for the 42km men and women’s races are set to take home US$1 250 each, with the first runner-ups getting US$1 000.
Third-place finishers have US$850 each reserved for them, US$700 for fourth positions and US$450 for fifth-placed athletes.
Those who cross the line from position six to 10 will each get US$300, US$250, US$200, US$150 and US$100.
Online Reporter