adminNkosilathi Sibanda in Mutare
VETERAN long distance runner Kelvin Pangiso proved that he is the undisputed pace setter in local marathons by winning the Tanganda Half Marathon in Mutare yesterday in a record time of one hour six minutes and eight seconds. Patience Murove claimed the women’s race in one hour 19 minutes and eight seconds.
Pangiso and Murove belong to the Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Service Athletics Club, which is highly credited with grooming most of the country’s long distance athletes and sprinters. For their efforts, the athletes each took home $550.
Policeman Munyaradzi Jere was second in the men’s category in a time of one hour seven minutes and four seconds, while Chiedza Chikore was second in the women’s race 33 seconds behind Murove.
In the wheelchair section, Elford Moyo and Thandiwe Ndlovu exerted their dominance in the 21KM race by claiming their fourth consecutive titles.
Pangiso and Murove were part of a contingent of 500 athletes that took part in the 5KM, 10KM, 15KM and 21KM distances in the undulating terrains of Mutare.
Owing to the chilly morning weather, athletes found it easy to stride, but gave in to fatigue after the 15KM peg.
For Pangiso, it seemed an easy task as he led from the start, outpacing outstanding runners such as Olympian Wirimai Juwao and Munyaradzi Jere. Pangiso broke away from the leading pack with 2KM to go to the finish line. He attributed his triumph to a rigorous training routine and support from ZPCS Commissioner General Paradzai Zimondi.
“If it was not for the training I did with fellow teammates, I would not have made it. Equally I am grateful to our Commissioner General for encouraging us to take sport activities seriously.”
His next assignment is the Econet Victoria Falls Marathon on July 3. “I have set my sights on the Econet Marathon in Victoria Falls as I want to win that race,” he said.
Murove was so dominant that she ran solo all the way.
derick.khumalo