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Ellina Mhlanga
Senior Sports Reporter
ZIMBABWEAN long distance runner Isaac Mpofu had another positive outing when he made the top 20 at the Boston Marathon on Monday.
Mpofu was competing at the race for the first time and he crossed the finishing line on position 19 with a time of 2hours 14minutes 8seconds. Although he could not beat his previous time, of 2hours 6minutes 48seconds he posted at the Valencia Marathon, in Spain last December, his performance was good enough to see him finishing in the top 20.
The race was won by Evans Chebet of Kenya for the second consecutive year in 2hours 5minutes 54seconds. He was followed by Tanzania’s Gabriel Geay with a time of 2hours 6minutes 4seconds. Benson Kipruto of Kenya was third in 2hours 6minutes 6seconds.
It was a Kenyan affair as Hellen Obiri claimed the title in the women’s race in a time of 2hours 21minutes 38seconds. Ethiopia’s Amane Beriso came in second position in 2hours 21minutes 50seconds, followed by Lonah Salpeter of Israel with a time of 2hours 21minutes 57seconds.
Mpofu is the only Zimbabwean athlete that has so far qualified for the forthcoming World Athletics Championships scheduled for August 19 to 27 in Budapest, Hungary.
He has also secured his place at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games and is already working on preparation for the two major competitions.
Other hopefuls earmarked by the National Athletics Association of Zimbabwe for World Championships and Olympics qualification include Moses Tarakinyu and Wellington Varevi. The duo, however, are chasing qualification for the 10,000m event.
They took part in the Two Oceans half marathon in South Africa on Sunday. Tarakinyu finished fifth in 1hour 4minutes 47seconds while Varevi finished in position 15 in 1hour 8minutes 3seconds. They are part of the ongoing camp that began in February.
Head of the national event coaches team for middle and long-distance runners, Benson Chauke, said the half marathon provided the athletes with some competition as they continue preparing for the qualifying races.
“The country assists athletes to prepare for races but some races and entries are done by their managers, some are done by clubs.
“So, a race like the Two Oceans Marathon for us, it just helps to bring the competitiveness in our athletes and assess their level versus some of the top regional runners. But it’s not like there is a time we would benefit from.
“But our key events are 10km races that are recognised to qualify for the World Championships and the Olympics,” said Chauke.
They are targeting the Absa Run Your City Series which features 10km races. Varevi and Tarakinyu competed in one of the races early this month. The next one is scheduled for May 14 in Cape Town. “There are about four Absa (races) of that nature, just running 10km, with a lot of competition.
“So instead of probably spending more money going to Europe, we will try and qualify through these routes. If we get other 10,000m events closer home where we can go and run to try and qualify, we will take that route.
Tendai Zimuto, who is just graduating to marathon, is also in camp as well as Tatenda Hove.
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