Sibonokuhle Mboni
FOREIGN athletes have shown interest in taking part in the Kings Half Marathon set for Bulawayo on October 31.
The event will be preceded by the Highlanders Half Marathon a week earlier while on November 1, there will be another road race, the Corporate Relays organised by the National Athletics Association of Zimbabwe.
Organisers say 500 runners have registered for the inaugural Kings Half Marathon which starts at Busters Sports Club in Bulawayo on 31 October, with the winner of the 21,1km race set to pocket US$1 500.
Organisers are expecting more than 1 000 participants including elite athletes from outside the country.
Ugandan Evas Nasasira began working on her clearances and has already engaged Bulawayo Athletics Board (BAB).
BAB boss Watson Madanyika said clubs were still registering ahead of the 29 October deadline.
“Over 500 participants have registered and we expect more to register before the deadline. We are expecting more than 1 000 participants that include the elite athletes and social runners,” said Madanyika.
Clubs that have confirmed participation include Blanket Mine from Matabeleland South, Black Rhinos from Harare and others from Gweru and Zvishavane.
Top local athletes expected include Isaac Mpofu, Philipa Dube and Anne Chirisa of ZRP, Moses
Tarakinyu, Tendai Zimuto of Black Rhinos and Mthokozisi Mhlanga of Blanket Mine.
“What makes this race different from other races is that the prizemoney is very high hence it has attracted top athletes from Zimbabwe and other countries such as Kenya,” said Madanyika.
In the 21,1km race, second place will receive US$500 and third place US$250. The 10km pays US$500, US$250 and US$150 for the top three, while the 5km winners will get US$250, US$150 and US$100.
“So it’s going to be a big race and I would like to thank the sponsors for coming up with this half marathon,” said Madanyika.
The race starts at 6am at Busters Sports Club. Runners will cover a route through the city’s southern suburbs, past Hillside Teachers College, Ekusileni Hospital and the Leeside shops right up to Douglasdale.
Runners can also enter the 10km race or the 5km fun run/walk. The entry fees are US$20 while corporate and fitness groups of 20 or more pay US$17 per runner.
The sponsors of the event are Budget Cash & Carry Wholesale, Kreckle Foods, Oakmund Marketing, Fazak, Nibbles, Bisko Biscuits, Gondo Securite and Lift.
The day will also be a family fitness festival, with aerobics and zumba sessions powered by Pro-ACTIVE Gym, children’s inflatables, a five-a-side soccer tournament and there will be food stalls.
