adminSenior Sports Reporter
KEVIN Pangiso and Rutendo Nyahora could not be weighed down by injury and outpaced competitors to lift the 21km male and female titles respectively during the 2015 edition of the Tanganda Tea Half Marathon held in Mutare last Sunday.
With a good number of the country’s top athletes in attendance and a remarkable increase of registered athletes from 400 to 600, the 2015 Tanganda Tea Half Marathon could have lived up to its high billing, but some logistical challenges dogged the event and proceedings only started an hour later.
Efforts to get a comment on the delays as well as other noticeable blips and blunders proved fruitless, with Tanganda head of marketing and promotions, Tsitsi Kumadiro clearly overwhelmed by the logistical arrangements of the event as she appeared to be in charge of everything including the race itself, media liaison as well as regalia and food distribution.
However, it was Pangiso, who walked away $550 richer after finishing the 21km race in 1 hour, five minutes and 17 seconds and snatched pole position yet he came in nursing a calf injury.
His female counterpart, Nyahora, who was also battling with a muscle strain, also received the same amount for her efforts in the females’ 21km contest where she finished the race in 1 hour, 18 minutes and 52 seconds.
Interestingly, both athletes came into this year’s edition of the Tanganda Tea Half Marathon nursing some injuries, but somehow still managed to outsmart their competitors.
Wirimayi Juwawo weighed in second position in the males 21km competition after crossing the line in 1 hour, five minutes and 39 seconds, while third placed, Kanishias Navara romped home in I hour, six minutes and 45 seconds.
Patience Murowe came second in the females’ 21km race when she crossed the line after 1 hour, 21 minutes and 35 seconds, while Faith Nyasango settled for third position after completing the race in 1 hour, 21 minutes and 55 seconds.
Last year’s 21km race winner, Elijah Mabhunu took part in the 10km race where he ruled the roost when he completed the race in 31 minutes and one second. Olivia Chitate was the females’ 10km race winner after completing the race in 37 minutes and 24 seconds.
In a brief interview with journalists, Tanganda Tea Company finance director, Henry Nemaire said there was room for improvement.
“We are generally happy with the way the race has been organised although we concede that there is room for improvement. We believe that we can always reflect on what we have done well and where we have erred and improve from there. As a company we believe in continuous improvement,” he said.
Online Reporter