Online Reporter
Moffat Mungazi
Sports Reporter
THE annual NetOne Albun Honde Valley Marathon continues to grow in leaps and bounce after it recently attained qualifier status for other international long-distance races following its certification by the World Athletics Board (WAB) last month.
This nod by the WAB means that the marathon becomes the inaugural cross-country race hosted in Manicaland Province to score such a first.
The brains behind the event, Alois Bunjira, confirmed the development and expressed excitement that they have managed to achieve one of their overall objectives.
“The NetOne Albun Honde Valley Marathon is now internationally recognised after it was certified by the World Athletics Board. As a result, the marathon is now being recognised as a qualifier for other international events like the Comrades Marathon in South Africa.
“This is a dream come true for us, as one of the main goals of this marathon was to get internationally recognition. We are on course to achieve the other objectives, and this goes as a tribute to honour the late event coordinator, Brenda Zvinorova, who sadly passed on in a road traffic accident on our way to Honde Valley for the particular business of getting the marathon internationally recognised,” said the former CAPS United and Warriors forward, who traces his roots to the picturesque landscape of the Eastern Highlands. An internationally qualified local route measurer, Aaron White, ran the rule over the NetOne Albun Honde Valley Marathon and produced a report that was adopted by WAB and resulted in the subsequent international certification.
“This is to certify that the course described above (NetOne Albun Honde Valley Marathon) and defined by the attached map has been measured and certified by a Grade C Measurer for all qualification purposes. The course measurement complies with WA and AIMS requirements regarding Road Race Course Measurement and the measured distance is not less than the official distance for the event,” reads the report in part, a copy of which The Manica Post has in its possession.
The report also details out the route description, measurement process, pre and post calibration as well as the elevation. Providing the technical details of the certification process, Manicaland Athletics Board (MAB) chairman, Joshua ‘Zesa’ Matume, said they are delighted with the global recognition the NetOne Albun Honde Valley Marathon has received.
“The route measurement has been a worthwhile exercise, and we are delight with this outcome that it is now internationally recognised. Some aspects that speak to international marathons like distance, terrain and altitude were measured and deemed to meet global standards.
“After their deliberations, WAB certified the NetOne Albun Honde Valley Marathon as a qualifier for other international races. In technical terms, this means that those global long-distance races that athletes in the NetOne Albun Honde Valley Marathon aspire to compete in will then stipulate their own times certain distances have to be completed in. Those who meet the stipulated finishing times can then qualify for the international marathons. On that account, this marathon has grown in stature,” explained Matume.
Both the organisers and MAB expressed hope that the NetOne Albun Honde Valley Marathon will this year attract more local and international participants.
Running for the third straight edition, the long-distance race – whose principal partner is giant telecommunications services provider, NetOne – is set to be held on November 22 on the undulating, but breath-taking terrains of Honde Valley.
