Chronicle Editor
Brandon Moyo
AS the country was celebrating the exploits of some of its sports stars outside the country, another Zimbabwean son, Givemore Mudzinganyama wrote his own piece of history, flying Zimbabwe’s flag up high by winning his debut Total Sports Two Oceans Marathon on Saturday morning in Cape Town, South Africa.
Going into the race as one of the least favourites to win since it was his first, Mudzinganyama stormed to victory in a time of 3:09:42, just over a minute earlier than second placed Dan Matshailwe from South Africa who finished his race at a time of 3:10:19 while pre-race favourite Nkosikhona Mhlakwana finished in third with a time of 3:10:40.
The 33-year-old, who joined Entsika Athletics Club in January and under the stewardship of renowned Hendrick Ramaala was with the main bunch throughout the race before breaking out to go for glory where it ended just being him and Matshailwe up for the top accolade.
Mudzinganyama struggled to find a professional club for some time and in 2021 running for the Waterfall City Athletics Club, he took part in the Cape Town marathon where he completed the race in a time of two hours and 14 minutes. After Waterfall, the Zimbabwean international went to Entsika where he managed to bag his first major victory in one of the top ultra-marathons in the continent.
Mudzinganyama joins compatriots Marko Mambo, who won the race several times, Mike Fokorani, Stephen Muzhingi and Moses Njodzi, who all have won the Two Oceans before.
“Still celebrating the Two Oceans Marathon victory. Well done everyone for completing, and friends for cheering us till now. Entsika Group, ASICS-South Africa. The road has been bumpy but the vision was clear,” Mudzinganyama posted on his Twitter account.
In the women’s section of the decorated event, his wife Nobukhosi Tshuma finished in fourth position to cap off a brilliant weekend for the couple. Tshuma ran her race in a time of 3:45:41 while the winner, Gerda Steyn from South Africa finished the race at a time of 3:29:06. This was Steyn’s fourth consecutive win and she did it in record time, smashing the one she set in last year’s race.
In the top 10 of the women’s race, there was another Zimbabwean international, Loveness Madziva who was in number 10 with a time of 4:00:30. The Two Oceans Marathon boasts both a 56km ultra marathon (main) and the famous half marathon.
Zimbabwe’s Moses Tarakinyu came fifth in the half marathon with a time of 1:04:48 while Wellington Varevi finished in position 15 in a time of 1:08:03. The race was won by South Africa’s Mbuleli Mthanga in 1:03:58 followed by Elroy Gelant with a time of 1:04:05 while Jobo Khatoane was third in a time of 1:04:13.
In the women’s race Emma Pallant from Britain was the first to cross the finish line in a time of 1:14:17, followed by Bekelech Wariyo from Ethiopia and Mokulubete Makatasi from Lesotho in with the times 1:14:22 and 1:16:14 for second and third place respectively.
The Two Oceans Marathon is backed by South Africa’s leading sports apparel retailer, Total Sports, and is run under the auspices of World Athletics (WA), Athletics South Africa (ASA), and Western Province Athletics (WPA). – @brandon_malvin
Online Reporter