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Ellina Mhlanga Sports Reporter
TOP long distance runner Collen Makaza put up a remarkable show on Saturday to finish second in the Two Oceans 56km Ultra marathon in South Africa.
Makaza stopped the clock in three hours 12 minutes 41 seconds in a field of 27 000 athletes competing in the Ultra marathon. The race was won by Motlokoa Nkhabutlane from Lesotho in 3hrs 10min 27s and his fellow countryman Moeketsi Mosuhli finished third in 3hrs 13mins 44s as they dominated the top three.
However, Makaza was not to be outdone as he raised Zimbabwe’s flag high by coming second.
Last year Makaza won the IAU 50km World Trophy final in Doha, Qatar, and the star continues to shine for the seasoned runner.
He first won the IAU race in 2010 in Galway, Ireland.
Makaza was making his seventh appearance at the Two Oceans Ultra Marathon and this was his best performance since he started competing in the event.
In 2012 he came third.
Speaking at a Press conference soon after the race, Makaza said he was excited to come second in the tough event and admitted that Nkhabutlane had outclassed him to emerge the winner.
“I was happy with my performance because I was training for six months for this race and it truly was a year of comebacks. Nkhabutlane was too fast and strong I couldn’t keep up after he ran away from the pack, I couldn’t catch up,” said Makaza.
Other Zimbabwean athletes who took part in the men’s race include veteran runner Stephen Muzhingi, who came seventh in 3hrs 17min 28mins.
Muzhingi has also had his good times in the long distance events in the past having won the Comrades Marathon three times from 2009 to 2011.
Tarisai Rukadza managed to finish on 23rd position in 3hrs 29mins 41s to complete the list of Zimbabwean athletes that were in the top 50 in the men’s event. Veteran female runner Thabita Tsatsa also did well in the women’s section finishingfourth in 3hrs 51mins 11s.
Another Zimbabwean who managed to finish in the top 50 is Orbetina Kanyongo. She stopped the clock in 4hrs 33mins 38s to settle for 31st position.
South Africa’s Caroline Wostmann was the first to cross the finishing line in the women’s section followed by Russia’s Nina Podnebesnova in 3hrs 44mins 4s.
Tanith Maxwell of South Africa came third in 3hrs 45mins 18s.
Online Reporter