Econet race champ mulls defending title

Sikhumbuzo Moyo Senior Sports Reporter
FOUR times Econet Victoria Falls Marathon winner Nkosiyazi Sibanda has not made up his mind whether to defend his title at this year’s edition set for June 28. The Blanket Mine based athlete has been bullying his way onto the winners’ podium for the past three years, winning in 2012 in 2 hours, 23 minutes 25 seconds and in 2013 swept to victory in 2 hours 54 minutes 44 seconds.

He was home in 2 hours, 21 minutes 40 seconds last year. He did not take part in 2011 but was victorious in 2010, in a time of 2 hours, 21 minutes 42 seconds.

“I’ve not made up my mind about whether to participate or not but I’m training hard as usual,” said Sibanda. He said he hoped to make up his mind on his participation three weeks before competition day.

“If I manage to contest then I will obviously be aiming at defending my title, I’m in good shape for that,” said Sibanda.

Winners of this year’s full marathon, both men and women will walk away with $900, up from $800 while half marathon winners are set to get $500, up from $450. Runners up in the full marathon will pocket $750, up from $675 while third place athletes have a guaranteed $600 with $450 being set aside for fourth place finishers. Prize money from fifth to 10th placed athletes did not change.

According to the organisers’ website registration is ongoing with online registration set to officially close on June 12 for logistical reasons.

The event continues to develop in leaps and bounds and is now a full qualifying event for the region’s top ultra-marathons, the Comrades and Two Oceans, which are both held in South Africa.

“Developed in conjunction with the National Athletics Association of Zimbabwe, the Victoria Falls Marathon race is an AIMS (Association of International Marathon and Distance Races) registered event. The marathon race provides a platform for both local and international runners to pit themselves against the best. The marathon race route is fast and relatively flat and is well supported by regular water points and cooling down sections, all ably managed by the sponsors.

“The marathon race route starts in the car park outside the banks/Ilala Lodge entrance, then crosses over the Vic Falls Bridge briefly into Zambia, the route then continues through the Zambezi National Park and ends at the Victoria Falls Primary School,” reads an extract from the website.