adminNgqabutho Moyo Sports Reporter
IHLOSI Athletics Club athlete Molen Ndlovu won the Bulawayo Athletics Board 2015 second cross-country race at Luveve High School yesterday. Ndlovu won the race in 35 minutes 25.83 seconds. He bettered Leonard Koki’s earlier time in the series of 35 minutes 43.43 seconds.
However, Koki’s time was clocked at Nketa Park in Mpopoma and questions are now being raised on the actual length of the course because if indeed both are 12km in length for seniors, then Bulawayo could do well at the Kadoma national finals this weekend.
A better breed of athletes like the late Thethelani Moyo and Zephaniah Ncube used to cover the distance in 36 to 37 minutes at the Hillside Dams.
Ndlovu was happy to have won the race. He said he is looking forward to the national finals in Kadoma.
“I’m happy to have won the event; I’m using local competitions like this one as part of my preparations for the national competition that will see me qualify for international events if I do well. I’m working hard to make good times for the Kadoma races,” said Ndlovu.
BAB chairman Manuel Mpofu said the event was well attended as compared to the first cross-country competition with schools around Bulawayo attending in big numbers.
“Most of the schools attended today’s race. We had quite a good turnout even though some popular athletes like city favourites Isaac Mpofu, Ngonidzashe Ncube, Trust Chidomaya, Charles Chivanga, John Payarira and Trust Madoro, all being members of the Support Unit based at Fairbridge, were not available because of work commitments,” said Mpofu.
Both cross-country races were used to select a 22-member provisional team that will represent Bulawayo at the inter-provincial competitions in Kadoma next weekend.
The athletes who were selected in the provisional squad are Blessed Ruguche, Bismark Ndlovu, Hlalani Ngwenya, Sandra Taderera, Cynthia Taderera, Gugulethu Maphosa, Molen Ndlovu, Leonard Koki, Bright Siwela, Thando Maphosa, Patience Gurure, Sivelisiwe Ndlovu, Christabel Nyathi, Proud Ncube, Nkosana Moyo, Dumo Mkhwananzi, Sydney Bhasera, Witness Magwiro, Elphas Masuka, Dambereni Ulutha, Yvonne Mutare and Memory Sibanda
Results
Women
Under-16 (4km): Damboreni Ulutha 17 minutes 56.11 seconds, Yvonne Mutare 18 minutes 31.84 seconds, Memory Sibanda 20 minutes 03.64 seconds
Under-20 (6km): Sandra Taderera 26 minutes 02.12 seconds, Cynthia Taderera 26 minutes 18.68 seconds, Gugulethu Maphosa 32 minutes 04.71 seconds.
Men
Under-16 (6km): Sydney Bhasera 15 minutes 07.97 seconds, Witness Magwiro 15 minutes 15.13 seconds, Obey Makamo 16 minutes 19.14 seconds.
Under-20 (8km): 1 Hlalani Ngwenya 29 minutes 36.13 seconds, 2 Bismark Ndlovu 29 minutes 53.93 seconds, 3 Hlalani Ngwenya 30 minutes 55.69 seconds
Seniors (12km): Molen Ndlovu 35 minutes 25.83 seconds, Bright Siwela 46 minutes 16.07 seconds, Thando Maphosa 49 minutes 11.23 seconds.
Online Reporter