Over 300 set for Liquor Hub Fun Run

Ngqwele Dube, Sports Correspondent
MORE than 300 athletes are set to hit the road this morning in the fourth edition of the Liquor Hub 10km Fun Run.

The last race on the Bulawayo Athletics Board (Bab) calendar is expected to feature a stellar cast of the country’s top athletes that include 2016 winner Tendai Zimuto, Wellington Varevi, Canisious Nyamutsita, Moses Tarakinyu, Tawanda Matunhu, Nkosiyazi Sibanda and Godfrey Gondwe in the senior men’s section.

In the senior women, athletes that had indicated their attendance by late Friday afternoon were Annie Chirisa, Lynette Tom and Rudo Monderwa. Bab chairman, Manuel Mpofu said they had received close to 200 entries by yesterday morning and they were expecting a late surge with more athletes coming from outside the city registering for the 10km race while health and fitness enthusiasts are also expected to turn out in their numbers for the 5km walk.

“Registration has been progressing well and we have now received close to 200 entries and as with all races we are going to see a late surge and I am sure we will get over the 300 mark by the time registration closes later this (yesterday) afternoon. We expect more top athletes to register. There is excitement over the prizes being pegged in Rand and most athletes have indicated they want to win the race and rush to Musina in South Africa to do some Christmas shopping,” he said.

Bab is organising the race in conjunction with Liquor Hub Wholesale Centre that is owned by Industry and Commerce deputy minister, Raj Modi. The organisers announced a new fee structure last month indicating prizes will be pegged in the South African Rand this year, with a total of R50 000 going towards the sponsorship of the event.

According to the new prize list, the winners in the senior men and women’s categories will walk away with R5 000 each, second-placed athletes will get R3 000 with the runners coming in third receiving R2 000 each. The top three in the junior men and women will get
R1 500, R1 000 and R500 respectively. The top two in both male and female wheelchair section will walk away with R2 000 and R1 500 respectively.

Liquor Hub representative, Stanford Mazura also revealed they have reverted back to the original route after changing it last year.

“This year we are moving back to the old route and we will start and finish at Liquor Hub premises in the city centre. Athletes in the 10km race will proceed south-east along 4th Avenue to Khumalo then make an about turn at the Hindu Community Centre in the same suburb back to Liquor Hub where the finish point will be. Those in the 5km walk will start at Liquor Hub and then proceed to the Hockey Stadium and back,” he said.

Mpofu said they will use the occasion to honour athletes that have done well this year with the Bab Awards that will see top male and female athletes walking away with floating trophies, medals and hampers.
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