adminMzingaye Sibanda in Kadoma
HARARE-based Airforce of Zimbabwe athlete Munyaradzi Jari bounced back to win the 12km men’s Zimbabwe National Cross-Country Championships held at Kadoma Country Club yesterday.Jari clocked 40 minutes 36,5 seconds to win his first major event.
He had been out of action since last August. Elijah Mabhunu came second in 41 minutes 04,5 seconds while the defending champion Isaac Mpofu came third in 41 minutes 36,9 seconds.
Jari said he was happy to win the race and hopes to raise the bar at the next level — the Southern African Regional Championships.
The men’s 12km race was the battle of the titans as big names in long distance running such as Phathisa Ngwabi, Cuthbert Nyasango, Wellington Varevi and Jonathan Chinyoka all took part.
If indeed it was a standard course, his time was bad as previous national winners of the 12km have done so in less than 38 minutes.
In the senior women’s category Harare’s Olivia Chitate won the 8km race in 31 minutes 27,1 seconds.
She opened a two-minute gap between her and the Nyasangos Constance and Faith who were trailing behind her.
Constance and Faith came second and third in 33 minutes 37,2 seconds and 33 minutes 54,7 seconds respectively.
Bulawayo Metropolitan Province dominated the girls’ cadet category with Patience Guruve winning the 4km race in 16 minutes 16,4 seconds while Eden Ncube came third in 19 minutes 18,59 seconds.
National Athletics Association of Zimbabwe president Tendai Tagara said he was pleased with the level of competition exhibited.
Online Reporter