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Lovemore Dube Senior Sports Editor
MONICA Kativu retained her Pretoria Portland Cement Matopos 33 Miler title as Charles Soza reigned supreme in the men’s category as prison warders dominated the event run yesterday morning.
The veteran female runner improved her time of 5 hours 04 minutes 51 seconds as she clocked 4 hours 06 minutes 47 seconds.
She virtually ran uncontested for most of the race as Muchaneta Gwata chased her from the beginning of the race to finish in 4 hours 26 minutes 36 seconds.
Margaret Mahohoma who started 10 minutes after the field which included men after getting to the starting point late, settled for third.
“I got to the starting point 10 minutes late. I had problems with getting there and I ran on my own for most of the race. I could have done better with competition,” said the former Bulawayo Bottlers athlete.
Kativu said the competition was so tough.
“The weather was good and the race was not so tough. I ran for a while with Muchaneta but eventually I kicked and left her behind to run most of the distance on my own,” said the winner of the $750 at stake.
But the real race was in the men’s category where Soza, running in his first ultra-marathon, struck gold.
“This was my first ultra-marathon. I have previously run 42km and done well. At the beginning of the year I won the Mafikeng Marathon in 2 hours 25 minutes. My best in the 42km is 2 hours 20 minutes in Durban.
“I was under no pressure at all. I pulled off after about 35km. Going into the race I had said I would just hang in on there and see how the ultra-marathon runners fare and then try to kick at the right time.
“I was a bit scared as there were ultra-marathon runners like Leonard Koki, Point Chaza, Lyno Muchena and Andrew Chimbidza,” said Soza of the Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Services (Mutare).
Soza crossed the line which guaranteed $750 in 3 hours 11 minutes 02 seconds.
Second spot went to his clubmate Lyno Muchena. He was home in 3 hours 14 minutes 14 seconds as he could not keep pace with Soza.
Chimbidza was third in a close 3 hours 14 minutes 22 seconds.
The race started at a cracking pace with several athletes taking the lead with Shadreck Nkhoma of Chitungwiza having led for over 15km. However a pulled muscle after about 35km saw him fall back to allow a group of athletes led by Soza to overtake him and dominate all the way.
Another pre-race favourite Koki had hung on to a top five slot for almost 40km before fizzling out in a race run in ideal cool conditions.
“I pulled out after about 35km because of a pulled muscle. I thought up to then I had done fairly well to win the race. It happens in the sport,” said Nkhoma.
Chaza, also a prison warder, was happy with his third place finish.
Elijah Mabhunu won the men’s 21km event in one hour 03 minutes 13 seconds. Wirimai Juwawo finished in one hour 04 minutes to assert Shabanie Mine as a leading athletics club in the country.
Jonathan Chinyoka was third in one hour 05 minutes 30 seconds.
Zimpost’s Jacob Mugomeri proved why he could be sent to run with letters and parcels if bicycles have problems at Zimpost with a fifth spot placing in one hour 05 minutes 46 seconds.
Hwange’s Phathisa Ngwabi in one hour 06 minutes 30 seconds proved that despite poor activity in Matabeleland North still deserved respect.
Honours in the women’s Half Marathon went to the Nyasango sisters- in-law Constance (one hour 25 minutes 10 seconds) and Faith one hour 28 minutes 50 seconds.
Netherlands-based Sharon Tawengwa was third in one hour 30 minutes. The international road runner with several marathon titles in South Africa under her belt was third in one hour 30 minutes with veteran Samu Moyo.
The wheelchair men’s honours went to Elford Moyo of Danhiko who completed the 21km event in one hour 05 minutes 31.05 seconds who beat Samson Muroyiwa of Zvishavane Paralympic Club by a split second.
Magadaline Madzivire was first in the women’s section with one hour 32 minutes and 17 seconds. Margaret Bangajena, among the country’s top athletes, finished the race 3.12 seconds later.
Thandiwe Ndlovu ensured a podium finish for herself in one hour 41 minutes 15 seconds.
Another star for the day was Patrick Chipoyi, the 1985-88 winner who clinched the men’s masters accolade.
He was home in 3 hours 38 minutes 17 seconds.
“It was a good race. I have won it several times with my best time being 3 hours 09 minutes in 1985. I have run this event between 20-25 times, I have really lost count,” said the veteran marathon runner.
Gavin Stephens for the Pretoria Portland Cement said they were happy with the race.
“Our aim was to get Bulawayo people involved and provide something to excite them. We are happy with the way things turned out, you could see the excitement at water points. It’s been a success once more. We need to keep such activities going in Bulawayo,” said Stephens.
Dailles Bingadadi of the Bulawayo Athletics Board said proceedings had gone well. She spoke highly of the quality of the field.
“We had athletes one would have wanted for any event. The quality of the field in both the Half Marathon and 33 Miler was impressive. We would like to thank the sponsors for this superb event,” she said.
Online Reporter