admin
Takudzwa Chitsiga
Sports Reporter
THE second edition of the Mr Pace Zimpost half-marathon was launched yesterday with a US$10 000 package.
The event, which began last year with 10km and 5km races, will this year be held at the National Sports Stadium B Arena on May 13 with the main race being the half marathon. Mr Pace Athletics club chairman Collen Makaza said he was happy with the gesture by Zimpost and Nicoz Diamonds, who have come on board to partner them, and they will make sure that the race lives up to expectations.
“I am very grateful to the sponsors for offering us an opportunity to stage the second edition of the Mr Pace Zimpost half-marathon. After last year’s edition, which we restricted to 10km race we have improved to the half-marathon which is the 21km.
“There will also be the wheelchair race, 10km which is for development and 5km fun run for all individuals. We are looking forward to around 500 athletes, which is an improvement from last year’s edition when we had above 300 athletes.
“The athletes have been preparing so hard especially those I work with they will have another 10,000m race at the same venue tomorrow (today) and I believe it will help them to see how prepared they are.
“We are going to give value of money to the sponsors by staging a well organised event,” said Makaza.
Zimpost acting general manager Maxwell Chitendeni said they are happy to have partnered Mr Pace for the second time and are looking forward to see some seasoned and future stars during the races.
“We are happy to be launching the Zimpost Mr Pace half-Marathon which will be held early next month. After successfully hosting the 10km last year we saw it prudent to have another races.
“Athletics or sports in general promotes health lifestyle and health living and we as Zimpost we have decided to make sure we support that through initiatives like these.
“We are happy that they will include some races like the 21km half marathon, which was not part of the races last year,” said Nicoz Diamond, who are also partners with Zimpost and joined the proceedings as they launched some of their new products, said through their managing director David Nyabadza that they were happy to be part of health and wellness initiatives.
Last year’s race attracted some of the leading long distance runners in the country such as Misheck Sithole and Caroline Mhandu, who emerged winners in the men and women’s categories respectively.
Kelvin Pangiso, Nomore Wiriki, Olivia Chitate, Constance Nyasango, Moses Tarakinyu and Jonathan Chinyoka were also part of the event.
The organisers will be hoping for another good turnout in terms of the quality of the field at this year’s edition.
Online Reporter