adminThe race started at Westgate Shopping Centre and finished at the same venue.
Juwawo ran 1 hour 2 minutes and 70 seconds after taking the lead at the 7km peg. For his efforts Juwawo walked away with $3 000.
Juwawo was impressed with the outcome as he said the race was not tough.
“The race was fine and the course was flat and perfect. I took the lead after seven kilometres and from there I won. Elmore and Pangiso tried to follow but they could not catch up.
“The competition was not that tough. When I broke away from the others at about 9km nobody could follow. I am excited,” said Juwawo.
Kelvin Pangiso came second in 1 hour 10 minutes and 38 seconds while Elmore Sibanda came a close third in 1 hour 10 minutes and 56 seconds.
Pangiso pocketed $1 500 and Sibanda got $1 000.
In the women’s category Rutendo Nyahora scooped the title when she crossed the finish line in 1 hour 11 minutes 33 seconds.
She was followed by Olympian Sharon Tavengwa in I hour 14 minutes and 1 second and Faith Nyasango clocked 1 hour 14 minutes and 13 seconds.
Nyahora said she was happy with her performance as the result shows that she is improving with each race.
“The race was okay and the competition was not as tough as I was expecting. I thought I was going to face a big challenge from Sharon (Tavengwa).
“From the 10km peg I was running alone when I dropped Sharon.
“I feel great because I have defended my title, I won the 16km race last year. I am happy with my performance because my graph is going up. Everything was well organised,” said Nyahora.
Nyahora got $3 000 while Tavengwa and Nyasango walked away with $1 500 and $1 000 respectively.
Tavengwa said she is still recovering from the knee injury she suffered before she went to the Olympics.
“Honestly the competition was challenging and tough. I haven’t started training so hard. I was fighting from the starting point.
“I am not very sure which event I will be competing in next because I am going for a check-up for my knee to see if it’s going so well,” said Tavengwa.
In the wheelchair category, the title went to veteran runner Elford Moyo who clocked 1 hour 11 minutes and 17 seconds.
Samson Muroyiwa was second in 1 hour 15 minutes and 8 seconds and Edmund Makutya ran 1 hour 18 minutes and 4 seconds to settle for third place.
In the women’s section Moline Majoni was the first to cross the finish line in 1 hour 22 minutes and 27 seconds ahead of Margaret Bangajena who came second in 1 hour 31 minutes and 30 seconds.
In third place was Magdaline Madzivire who ran 1 hour 37 minutes and 16 seconds.
Winners in both the men and women’s sections got $1 000 while the runners-up got $500 and the athletes who finished third place walked away with $200.
Freddy Kashiri won the men’s grandmasters in the men’s category and the women’s title went to Anastania Matsiru. They both pocketed $100.
The 10km men’s race was won by Potifa Dombojena in 30 minutes 54 seconds and Sithulisiwe Zhou won the women’s title. They both walked away with $500. Zhou also won the secondary schools title.
There was also a 5km race for primary schools.
The race attracted more than 2 000 participants from across the county and Collen Makaza made a guest appearance.
The Westgate marathon started last year as a 16km fun run but this year it was upgraded to a 21km race recognised by the IAAF. The race is sponsored by Old Mutual and the organisers said they are looking forward to another exciting event next year.
derick.khumalo