Over 500 expected at PPC 33 miler

Fungai Muderere
OVER 500 athletes are expected to take part in this yearaï¿½ï¿½s edition of the PPC Matopos 33-miler ultra-marathon set for Saturday.

Bulawayo Athletics Board chairman Manuel Mpofu said last yearaï¿½ï¿½s marathon had around 400 participants and going a hundred up is possible.

aï¿½?We are looking forward to having over 500 athletes. Last year we had just over 400 competitors. We would like to see a number of our top athletes taking part in the Matopos 33-Miller,aï¿½? said Mpofu adding that most athletes tend to register for the race on the last day before the race.

Registration began on 13 March with athletes paying $10 for the ultra-marathon and half-marathon and $5 for the 10km race and 5km Fun Run.

Mpofu revealed that by Wednesday just over 100 athletes, that include Blanket Mine duo of Nkosiyazi Sibanda and Tawanda Matunhu, Wellington Barevi of Amen Academy in Harare, Hwange Colliery Companyaï¿½ï¿½s Phathisa Ngwabi, Dumo Ngwabi of Sparrows, ZRP Bulawayoaï¿½ï¿½s Annie Sibisa, Trust Chinobhuya who hails from ZRP Fairbridge and seasoned female long distance runners Samkeliso Moyo and Monica Kativhu, had already registered for the event.

Defending champion Peter Mutumbare (men) and Kativhu (women) vowed to defend their titles.

The sponsors of the PPC Matopos 33-miler ultra-marathon, Pretoria Portland Cement (PPC) Zimbabwe increased funding for this yearaï¿½ï¿½s edition of the competition to $16 000 with winners set to get $1 000 each in both the men and womenaï¿½ï¿½s categories.

The marathon will be held from the usual starting point at Matopos National Park and ending at Bulawayo Athletic Club.

Last year the race was sponsored to the tune of $13 000 with the winners in the open category, Airforce of Zimbabwe runner Mutumbare and Kativhu, getting $850 each.

aï¿½?We have increased our pledge by 17% this year to$16 000 from last yearaï¿½ï¿½s $13 000 and that is good news for the runners. Winners will each receive $1 000 for the 33-miler, which is a good incentive and motivation for the runners,aï¿½? said PPC area manager (sales and marketing) Nkosana Mapuma.

Runners-up will each get $750 for the open category, while the veterans, masters and grandmasters winners will receive $400 each for the full marathon.

For the half marathon, winners in the men and womenaï¿½ï¿½s sections will receive $500 each with the wheelchair category prizes pegged at $400 for the winners in each section.

Mapuma said instead of the relay races, this year the organisers would introduce a 10km race, which will start at Tshabalala Game Sanctuary with the 5km Fun Run continuing from the previous races.

The PPC 33-miler (56km) is an International Association of Athletics Federations-certified race which is a qualifying event for international races including South Africaaï¿½ï¿½s Comrades Marathon.

Last year, Mutumbare won the race in 3:12:10 while Kativhu clocked 4:02:45.

The half marathon was won by Wirimai Juwawo in 1:07:23 in the menaï¿½ï¿½s section with Chiedza Chokore coming first in the womenaï¿½ï¿½s category in 1:21:14.