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Fungai Muderere
IT’S bigger than money!
Amid attractive prize monies at this year’s edition of PPC Matopos 33-Miler Ultra-Marathon, Bulawayo Athletics Board (BAB) chairman Manuel Mpofu has called upon athletes that are going to take part in the Saturday event to guard against risking their lives as money cannot buy one’s life.
The prize money for the 2019 PPC Matopos Marathon trebled in each category after the race sponsors put in $48 000.
In 2018, PPC availed $16 100 as prize money.
“We are very much happy that the sponsors of the race have increased the prize money and as such we are looking forward to witnessing a very competitive event. Most of the well-known athletes that include Leonard Koki and Marko Mambo have already confirmed that they were going to take part.
“As BAB we are very much prepared to co-ordinate and we would want to encourage all the participants to be disciplined. The competitions can be very strenuous and if one does no longer manage to continue he or she must simply pull out. We know the prizes are very attractive but money cannot buy life,” said Mpofu.
Mambo finished fifth in last year’s Comrades Marathon in South Africa and Koki is a famed Zimbabwe National Army road-runner who also once took part in the revered Mzansi’s competition, Comrades Marathon.
Six-time winner of the Econet Victoria Falls marathon Nkosiyazi Sibanda of Blanket Mine will also be in the contest.
Lyno Muchena, who won the race in 2017, Tendai Zimuto and Wellington Varevi in the men’s section, are all in line to compete.
In the women’s categories, top athletes Bertha Chikanga and Rudo Mhonderwa are some of the competitors for this year’s edition.
PPC Zimbabwe general manager for sales and marketing Nkosana Mapuma said they expected up to 3 500 participants this year following last year’s record 2 500 entries.
Registration for this year’s event, which will run under the theme ,”If you like adventure, there is a race for that”, was finalised on Thursday and Friday at Bulawayo Athletics Club (BAC) after the organisers had increased registration fees, with the 33-Miler (53km) runners paying $25 compared to $10 in 2018. The half-marathon (21,1km) doubled from last year’s $10 to $20, while the 5km and 10km races are $10.
There is also a category for wheelchair athletes.
Last year, Black Rhinos Athletics Club runner Andrew Chimbidzai won the tightly contested men’s 33-Miler after summoning all his remaining energy in the final stretch to finish five seconds ahead of Sibanda of Blanket Mine.
Chimbidzai completed the race in 3 hours 12 minutes and 23 seconds, while Sibanda crossed the line in 3 hours 12 minutes and 28 seconds.
Chiedza Chikore won the 2018 women’s 33-miler in 4 hours nine minutes and 10 seconds, followed by Muchaneta Gwata, who finished 44 seconds later.
Winners in both the men and women’s 33-Miler will each pocket $3 000, with the runners-up getting $2 250.
PPC managing director Kelibone Masiyane said for the second year running, they would adopt international standards and engage timing giants ChampionChip Africa to electronically time the 21km and 53km races. As a result, this year’s PPC Matopos Marathon also serves as a qualifier for the Comrades Marathon.
ChampionChip is one of the biggest timing companies in Africa and is the official timer of top South African marathons, the Comrades and Two Oceans marathons.
Masiyane also revealed that they had entered into a partnership with ZimParks to accommodate out of town athletes at discounted rates at Maleme Rest Camp all in a bid to spice up the event.
He said Childline Zimbabwe, who pocket all the money raised from registration fees, would provide volunteers to assist in the smooth running of the marathon.
derick.khumalo