Lovemore Dube, [email protected]
ATHLETICS legends Nicholas Nyengerayi, Brighton Chipere, Sipho Ncube and Tommy Lazarus were impressed with the inaugural hosting of the King’s Half Marathon.
The event, which had a few glitches, was run on Saturday morning with athletes starting off at the Smokehouse and ending their races at the same venue.
Organisers and sponsors had men and women running in different categories with Godwin Katakura winning the main race, the 21,1km distance.
“I am very happy with what I have seen here. I am a former winner of the Matopos 33 Miler, Peace Marathon in Mutare, Harare and even races in South Africa. I have been to Europe where I competed in many races but what I have found at this event now needs people to come together.
People can now eke a living out of running.
“The prizes may not be so big but the fact that they are races regularly, one can survive out of running. I am so happy with what I have seen at this event,” said Ncube.
Brighton Chipere a very successful marathon runner in the 1990s and early 2000s was elated with how the race was organised.
“It was a good race and well organised,” said Chipere.
Tommy Lazarus whose 33 Miler record stood for a long time, said Bulawayo has always been special to him.
He represented Zimbabwe at the Los Angeles Olympics in 1984 after qualifying in Bulawayo.
”I like it here in Bulawayo, I also won the Matopos 33 Miler when I broke the record which still stands. I am proud to be here. I came to this race and I ran the 21,1km as a grand master. It is great to be here, I was popular here. All my records stay here, I say Bayethe Bulawayo,” said Lazarus who used to run for the Airforce of Zimbabwe.
Lazarus also praised the organisers for pitching marshals and water points at good distances apart.
“Water points were clear, road marshals were up to date and transport was moving around,” he said.
Nyengerayi also gave the organisers a good rating.
“I ran the 21,1km. The course was fast, which was the same course I ran during the Joshua Mqabuko Marathon. Today the young marathon runners are doing better than the legends,” said Nyengerayi.
Nyasha Mharakurwa who took part in the wheelchair category, was happy with the way the event was organised.
