adminCurtworth Masango
CADENCE Athletics Club coach Alden Muhoni is delighted by the performance of Zimbabwean runners in the Sanlam race held in Cape Town recently.
Blessing Waison of Cadence finished sixth in the 42.2km race in a time of 2 hours 15 minutes and 10 seconds.
Winfred Mutiro, Max Mudzinganyama, Tatenda Hove and Gilbert Mutandiro are among the other Zimbabwean athletes who also participated in the event.
“This was the first time we sent an athlete to regional events.
“It was also his first marathon outside Zimbabwe.
“I think he did very well, although we missed the 2-hour 10 minutes mark.
“There were a lot of competitive athletes from East Africa, South Africans and also Zimbabwean runners.
“My athlete was not registered as an elite athlete, hence he did not have refreshments dedicated to him on the tables.
“He had not run any big races in South Africa, so they couldn’t accept him as an elite.”
He added:
“He missed hydration at many points along the route.
“At 30kms, he was on target to achieve a 2 hr 10 min time, but started slowing down in the remaining 12km due to cramps.
“Now that he has achieved a good time, it will be easy for him in the next regional and international races,” Muhoni said.
He believes the country has many competent distance athletes but they lack support.
“I think, as a country, we are not investing enough in athletics like other sporting disciplines.
“All surrounding countries are putting in effort to produce big athletes, while we are stuck.
“We are being left behind.
“Recently, we had Isaac Mpofu breaking our national marathon record, but you may not even know it because no one did anything or something about it.
“Athletes need to be recognised to perform better.”
Mathew Masinge
Online Reporter