Sibanda makes it 6 in a row in Zim, SA marathon

Thupeyo Muleya Beitbridge Bureau
NKOSIYAZI Sibanda wrote his own piece of history when he won the Two Countries’ Marathon involving runners from Zimbabwe and South Africa on Saturday for the sixth consecutive year. Sibanda of Blanket Mine Athletics Club romped home in 2 hours 30 minutes, seven minutes slower than his 2014 time due to high temperatures.

The 42,2KM race started at the Nottingham turnoff 10KM outside Beitbridge town along the Bulawayo road and ended at Eric Louw High School in Musina, South Africa.

Both the 21,1KM and 9KM races started and finished at Eric Louw High School.

Fellow Zimbabwean Elijah Mutandiro was second in 2 hours 35 minutes followed by South African Lucas Nonyana, who crossed the line in 2 hours 40 minutes.

In the women’s category, Mutare sisters Lizzy and Chiedza Chokore were first and second in 3 hours 10 minutes and 3 hours 19 minutes respectively, followed by South Africa’s Gladys Lukwareni in 3 hours 25 minutes.

Gilbert Mutandiro won the men’s half marathon followed by Wellington Varevi.

Veteran Samkheliso Moyo won both the veterans’ and open 21KM races in the women’s category followed by Paulina Powo and Hilda Malokome.

The men’s 10KM race was won by Blanket Mine Athletics Club’s Vivian Moyo followed by Mutshidzi Muravha of South Africa with Zimbabwe’s Tawanda Mhandu coming third.

The South Africans dominated the women’s 10KM women’s and junior races, which had no Zimbabwean athletes.

Race winners received R7,000, medals and cell phones sponsored by Vodacom. Second and third placed runners walked away with R4,500 and R3,000 respectively.

Race Coordinator Nell Ferreira said the event went according to plan, adding that they were working on increasing prize money for next year’s race to attract more entries.

Ferreira said they had 56 athletes in the main event and 130 in the 21KM race, while the 10KM had 104 runners.

Close to 40 Zimbabweans took part in the race with only 14 of them taking part in the full marathon.

The Two Countries’ Marathon was organised by South Africa’s Musina Municipality, Beitbridge Town Council and Beitbridge Rural District Council.