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Tadious Manyepo Sports Reporter
AFTER defying the odds in the 14th edition of the Bonaqua Africa Triathlon Cup in Nyanga on Saturday, bronze medalists Makanaka Mawere and Wynn Greer say more is still to come from them.
With a strong international field descending for the annual fiesta, at the Troutbeck Resort, the two were outsiders, in their respective races.
Seventeen-year-old Mawere featured in the women’s junior elite while Greer took part in the women’s elite.
The Hellenic student gave a good account of herself in the race, despite losing several weeks of training, due to an injury sustained in the African Junior Championships, in June.
She came third, behind South Africa’s Kira Ribbink, who won the title for the second time, in a row.
Ribbink’s compatriot, Anika Visser, was second in the race.
“I am extremely happy. I always gave myself a chance but I knew the race was going to be tough,” said Mawere.
“I have a lot of areas I need to work on.
“Of course, I lost a considerable time of training, while recovering from the injury I sustained in Egypt.
‘’I am definitely not happy with my cycling, I need to work on that aspect a lot.
“But, all the same, I am happy and I am looking forward to do better, at the coming world competitions.
“I performed beyond my expectations and I am happy with my performance.
“I am still getting over a bad injury and such a performance comes as a huge motivation for me to keep going, to push even harder and get better.’’
Greer came third behind South Africans Bridget Theunissen and Hannah Newman.
“The swim was fun and I finished among the top athletes, which gave me a boost,” said Greer.
“I then had to capitalise on cycling because that is my strength.
‘’The run was tough because of the illness, I just told myself that I will race for Zimbabwe and that is what I did.”
Another Zimbabwean George Ascott, who raced in the junior men, finished fourth in a competition won by South Africa’s Rossouw Venter.
John Makona of Kenya and Johannes Van Der Westhuizen of Namibia came second and third respectively.
Youth, Sport, Arts and Recreation Kirsty Coventry, who was the guest of honour, was represented by Director of Sport and Recreation in the Ministry, Eugenia Chidhakwa.
“I would like to thank Triathlon Zimbabwe for staging a well-organised event.
‘’The successful hosting of such an event of high magnitude highlights an excellent level of good event management,” she said.
Online Reporter