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Ellina Mhlanga Senior Sports Reporter
VETERAN runner Mike Fokorani says he is targeting a top 10 finish at the 2022 Comrades Marathon this Sunday in South Africa.
This year, the race is a down run, starting at the City Hall in Pietermaritzburg and finishing at the Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban.
According to the race website, the distance is 89.885km.
Several Zimbabweans entered the race and Fokorani is one of the leading local athletes set to compete on Sunday morning.
Fokorani arrived in South Africa on Tuesday ahead of the race. The veteran runner said he has worked hard in preparation for the race and is going for a top 10 finish.
“From the time when all sports resumed, I had already started training. I did compete in a few races and my results were so impressive to me.
“Looking at how much I have prepared for Comrades, I feel like I am back to my normal fitness level and I can promise a top 10 finish if not five depending on the situation during the competition.
“I believe that given a good weather and all running requirements during the course, I can run a very good time and finish in a good position,” said Fokorani.
The race returns after a two-year break due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The 2020 and 2021 editions could not take place because of the pandemic.
Fokorani participated at the race in 2019 but finished outside the top 10.
“My last race was in 2019 but it was an up run which is not my favourite. I just ran in order to protect my contract with Nedbank. So I ran to finish not to win or be in top 10.”
As part of his preparations for Sunday’s race, the veteran runner participated in a number of races locally and in South Africa since the beginning of the year.
Some of the local road races he took part in include the CBZ Marathon and Econet Victoria Falls Marathon.
“I did the 50km in Port Elizabeth in June where I ran 2 hours 49 minutes and finished on position seven. And I ran the tough one, the Vic Falls Marathon in a time of 2 hours 19 minutes and I was in position five.
“I also did the Mangosuthu race 52km in Durban on the 5th of June and finished on position 10 in a time of 3 hours 7 minutes. So I am ready to hang at any pace during the race,” said Fokorani.
The Bindura-based runner is one of the Zimbabwean athletes that have become regular participants at the Comrades Marathon.
His best performance was in 2016 when he came fourth in 5 hours 35 minutes 9 seconds. In 2013 he was eighth at the same race.
Meanwhile, distance runners are expected to go into camp in Harare early next month in preparation of the Cape Town Marathon to take place in October and the Munich Marathon.
The National Athletics Association of Zimbabwe are targeting the races for qualification to the 2023 World Championships to be held in Budapest, Hungary.
Online Reporter