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Takudzwa Chitsiga
Sports Reporter
LIAM Savari of Harare based Eagles Athletics Club and Lorna Doorman were the inaugural winners of the ZB Bank half marathon at the financial institution’s sports club in Harare on Sunday.
The 27-year-old Savari, who is based in Norton, defied odds after he arrived at the venue a few minutes after all the athletes had taken to the 21km race.
After arriving three minutes late, Savari built on his Econet Victoria Falls marathon experience (where he finished fifth back in July) and crossed the line in 1 hour 17 minutes and 3 seconds to beat Marlon Tauzeni (1 hour 18 minutes 35 seconds), in second place.
Solomon Mutsikamahwe settled for third place crossing the finish line, 59 seconds behind Tauzeni to complete the podium.
Doorman was in her own class in the women category after she crossed the line in 1 hour 34 minutes 1 second and was more than 10 minutes ahead of Patricia Chikambura who clocked 1 hour 45 minutes 33 seconds, in second place.
Chikambura, who like Savari was late to the starting line by four minutes, managed to finish second while Rumbidzwai Chiunda claimed third place in 1 hour 51 minutes 41 seconds.
Savari was happy with the race and is looking forward to more while targeting the comrades’ marathon.
‘I am happy with my first place finish as this gives me an opportunity to practice for other upcoming event. The terrain was challenging especially after I reached Harare Drive it was a tough challenge but I am happy that I managed to complete the race.
“There was a lot of competition and I am glad that despite coming late I managed to win,” said Savari.
Chikambura said he was happy with her second place finish and is looking forward to continue working hard.
There was also competition in the 10 km run while others took part in the 5km walk/run as well as Zumba in the event, which attracted close to 200 participants.
ZB Financial Holding organised the event in partnership with Harare Athletic Club and intends to take it to different venues around the country each year as well as include wheelchair racing going forward.
“The half marathon will be an annual event and we will be holding it in different parts of the country. Next year we will be in Bulawayo. For more inclusivity we will also include People Living with Disabilities, starting with the Wheelchair Race. Thank you to Walter Chimuka and the Harare Athletics Team as well as all our stakeholders who have made this event a success. We win together as a team, and we are all winners just by participating,” group CEO Shepherd Fungura said after the event.
“At ZB we are aligned to sustainability and the UNSDG number 3 which is to ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages. I am happy to see participation across various ages and of note, are students participating from our schools’ entrepreneurship development programme with Emergination Africa.
“This inaugural ZB Half Marathon is one of our ways of contributing towards a healthy nation and increased productivity,” Fungura added.
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