Online Reporter
Ellina Mhlanga
Zimpapers Sports Hub
TRUST HOVE and Angela Moyo emerged tops to be crowned champions at this year’s ZB Marathon held in Harare yesterday.
The event saw 2 700 participants converging at ZB Sports Club for the 42km, 21km, 10km and 5km races. There was also the 10km wheelchair race on offer.
This is the first time the event included a 42km race and Hove from Black Rhinos Athletics Club won the men’s title in 2 hours 32 minutes 28 seconds.
Solomon Mawe and Nigel Svova came second and third respectively.
Hove, competing in his third marathon this year, was pleased with the outcome and feels he is making progress.
“The race was tough but I managed to win. It’s my third marathon this year and I can see some improvements. Today I won and I am delighted.
“I have improved in terms of speed compared to the previous races, and I am making progress,” said Hove.
Moyo claimed the women’s title in 2 hours 59 minutes, 7 seconds.
Moyo was followed by Rudo Mhonderwa on second position and Anne Haulbet was third.
For Moyo it was her first marathon having previously focused on 10km and 21km races.
“I am really excited to have competed alongside the likes of Rudo, she is one of the top athletes.
“So, I was surprised to win the race. I didn’t know I had made such progress and I could win a marathon and it is my first marathon.
“My wish is to run Comrades that’s what pushed me today,” Moyo said.
For their efforts Hove and Moyo received US$300.
Munyaradzi Jari won the men’s 21km in 1 hour 10 minutes 32 seconds. Last year’s winner Wellington Varevi was second, followed by Golden Mhonderwa on third place.
Ethel Pangiso was the first to cross the finish line in the women’s section with a time of 1 hour 32 minutes 39 seconds.
In the 10km wheelchair race, the men’s title went to Munyaradzi Katiyo while Stellah Jongwe won the women’s category.
Jongwe said the race was important for her preparations for an upcoming half marathon in Japan.
“This race was fantastic, it was good, the terrain and everything.
“And also, this race is helping me to prepare for my next race, I am hoping to go to Japan in November, so I am preparing for an international race,” said Jongwe.
This year’s edition ran under the theme “Every Step For You” as the organisers seek to promote wellness.
ZB Financial Holdings executive head wellness and employee relations Stanley Chikwati said; “Our theme for this year is Every Step For You.
“We are saying the theme really goes down to wellness. We are saying every step, but we hope every step that you run is for your well-being, is for wellness.
“So, in the same vein we are also talking about drug and substance abuse.
“It is our way of reiterating the point that it’s important to participate in wellness events and activities, fighting drug and substance abuse. That’s the underlining theme that we are running with as ZB Financial Holdings and our other partners.
“It’s meant to kick way bad habits so that we grow as a community, we participate, we are always moving, we are always in the society, we are seen in the society to be fighting drug and substance abuse,” said Chikwati.
Previously the main event was the half marathon.
“We have been doing this every year, but it was at a lower pace. But now we have decided that we need to go a step further and starting this year, this is coinciding with our 75th anniversary, we said let’s make it bigger.
“This is why we started the 42km race,” Chikwati said.
