Chronicle Editor
Innocent Kurira, Sports Reporter
LONG distance runners Moses Tarakinyu and Liquor Hub Wholesale Centre maintained their dominance in the Liquor Hub 10km fun run after coming out first in the senior men and women categories respectively.
The event which has become a flagship race on the athletics calendar took place in the city yesterday.
Liquor Hub Wholesale Centre proprietor, Raj Modi, who is also the Deputy Minister of Industry and Commerce sponsored this year’s edition to the tune of R50 000.
Tarakinyu and Chitate were the winners in the same race when it last took place in December 2019.
This year’s event saw the number of athletes taking part in the competition decrease largely owing to the Covid-19 virus.
Only 72 athletes registered this year compared to over 300 in 2019.
One official and athlete failed to participate on the day after retaining positive Covid-19 tests upon the start of the event.
Tarakinyu of Black Rhinos clocked 29 minutes 35 seconds, closely followed by Munyaradzi Zizhou 30:02 seconds. Jonathan Chinyoka was third in a time of 30 minutes 11 seconds.
The senior men’s winner was however, not impressed by his time.
“Of course I am happy that I won. However, I am disappointed with the time. I failed to match my previous time which is a worry. I will attribute the bad time to the fact that the field today was not competitive. If you look at it, I led from start to finish without any challenge,” said Tarakinyu.
Chitate from ZRP won the women’s race in 35 minutes 45 seconds. Fortunate Chizvidzo was second after clocking 36 minutes 21 seconds. The bronze medal went to Ethel Pangiso who crossed the finish line in 37 minutes 02 seconds.
“I feel it was a tough race where everyone was struggling. I feel, we all started off slowly up to the 5 km peg that is when I opened the gap and left the pack. It was a strategy that worked. I am delighted to have won the race again,” said Chitate.
This year Liquor Hub is partnering with the Brave Little Hearts (BLHZ) whose main aim as an organisation is to assist and raise awareness to the plight of children living with heart conditions where two children will be helped to receive their life changing surgery in India.
Two children suffering from congenital heart disease (CHD) will be sent to India for surgery with proceeds from the race. – @innoceentskizoe.
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