Pangiso, Nyahora in brave show as Kenyans grab titles

in the senior men’s section at the first edition of the Africa Cross-Country Championship in Cape Town at the weekend.
Athletes from Kenya dominated the event taking the top five slots in all the four categories while Rutendo Nyahora was the highest placed Zimbabwean female athlete in 13th position.
Pangiso completed the 12km distance in 37 minutes 11seconds as Kenya’s John Mwangangi romped to victory in 35.31 min.
Zimbabwe failed to get a medal placing as Jonathan Chinyoka finished 21st in 38.47 min while inter provincial champion Ngonidzaishe Ncube was two places behind his compatriot on 38.52 min.
Seasoned runner, Luwis Masunda, a brother to Ncube failed to finish the race as he sprained his ankle, according to a statement from National Athletics Association of Zimbabwe president Joseph Mungwari.
Mungwari said Nyahora stopped the clock in 28.58 min while Sharon Taengwa was 15th in 29.21 min. Samukeliso Moyo achieved a 19th position in 29.47min after the 8km run while Constance Nyasango was 21st on 30.12 min.
Zimbabwe only fielded runners for the senior categories but the team failed to match the strong Kenyan runners who took all the top slots. Mercy Cherono of Kenya won in a time of 27.13 min while coming second was Viala Ribiwot in 27.14min and third was Doris Changeiywo 27.22 min also of Kenya.
Overally the Zimbabwe women’s team was shy of a medal with the gold going to Kenya, silver going to Morocco and Bronze to South Africa.
“All in all 30 females took part in the 8km cross country race drawn from 18 African countries. Zimbabwe did not field juniors in the women’s categories but the Kenyans won the event grabbing first position through to sixth position,” said Mungwari in a statement.
The NAAZ chief Mungwari said Zimbabwe could not score points in the men’s section after Masunda pulled out.
“Masunda who was running close to Kelvin Pangiso sprained his ankle when he was coming into the home stretch to finish the race.
“He was unable to finish the race and this meant that Zimbabwe could no longer score as a team 34 men participate in the senior men’scategory.
“Zimbabwe did not field any athletes in the junior men’s category. The Kenyans dominated this event coming position one to six,” said Mungwari.