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Ricky Zililo Sports Reporter
SOUTH Africa-based long distance runner Xolani Nkiwane is set to make a comeback on the local athletics scene 10 years after his last stride when he participates in the Masiyephambili Marathon in a fortnight’s time.Nkiwane, a member of the Florida Athletics Club in Johannesburg, carved his skill at Lobengula’s Sparrows Athletics Club at the beginning of the new millennium and his last race before relocating to South Africa was the Nkulumane Complex Old Mutual 10km in 2002.
In an interview yesterday, the pencil slim athlete said he has started preparing for the Masiyephambili Marathon set for 3 November in Bulawayo.
Nkiwane said he has been training alone with the hope of winning the inaugural competition.
“The truth of the matter is that I am not yet sure whether I will participate in the full marathon or the 21km race. I have been training hard, running 15-30km a day using the former Bulawayo Half Marathon route starting from White City Stadium. What I have been doing is to try and maintain my speed and acclimatise to local conditions,” said Nkiwane.
The athlete who represented Zimbabwe at the fifth edition of the Africa Junior Championships in Mauritius in 2002 said he looked forward to competing with some of his childhood peers who include Olympian Cuthbert Nyasango, Kudakwashe Shoko of Shabanie Mine and George Majaji.
Nkiwane said he has fond memories of running alongside Nyasango who used to give him torrid times when they were still juniors.
“I can see the level of competition here is very high looking at the times that the other athletes have. My personal best in 21km is one hour eight minutes but knowing that Nyasango and company have lower times is a positive challenge for me.
I can’t wait for the day of the race because we used to compete well during our days.
“I remember there was this other 5 000m race where I clocked just over 14 minutes with Nyasango ahead of me by less than a second. I am really looking forward to the marathon and I hope it will be an interesting event,” Nkiwane said.
He said since the beginning of the year he has competed at the Mosseals Bay Petro SA 21km race where he finished third in one hour 18 minutes, Vanderbijl Park 15km event where he clocked 45 minutes, Edenvale Half Marathon (one hour 11 minutes) and last month’s Springbok Pharmacy event at Johannesburg’s Zoo Lake managing a time of one hour 15 minutes.
Last year he participated in the Soweto Marathon and finished the race in two hours 45 minutes. Nkiwane is targeting at running the 21km event at the Masiyephambili Marathon in one hour five minutes.
“All I have to do is to be patient and make sure that I keep up with the leading pack. These guys have been running lots of long distances and I think if they push me harder I can clock an hour and five minutes which I believe can win me the race,” Nkiwane said.
Online Reporter