Online Reporter
Ellina Mhlanga
Zimpapers Sports Hub
IT’S less than two weeks before the Econet Victoria Falls Marathon comes to life, and the defending champion in the men’s category, Blessing Waison, is hopeful of retaining the title.
The event is due to take place in the tourist resort town on July 5.
Waison confirmed he will be back on the start line this year, and the goal is to defend his title.
“My target as the defending champion is to defend the title.
“And then there may be foreign runners participating, like at the Joshua Nkomo Marathon, where we had an athlete from Uganda and another from Kenya.
“If we have foreign athletes, which is likely to make it more competitive, the target is to also improve the time I posted last year,” said Waison.
He won the previous edition in 2 hours 13 minutes 16 seconds. In 2023, he had claimed the title in 2 hours 15 minutes 11 seconds.
The 2024 edition was won by Tendai Zimuto in 2 hours 17 minutes 14 seconds.
Waison has already competed in several local races. The Cadence Athletics Club runner made his debut at the Two Oceans Marathon in South Africa in April and finished third.
He went on to compete at the inaugural Joshua Nkomo Peace Marathon and was second behind his training partner Godwin Katakura in the same month.
As he braces for the Econet Victoria Falls Marathon, Waison is convinced with the groundwork covered despite some hiccups after his training partner, Katakura got injured at the Wonderful Half Marathon held on May 30 in Zambia.
“So far, my preparations are okay. Since I was coming from Two Oceans, I just slowed down on my programme a bit to focus on speed.
“But we had a challenge with my training partner, Godwin when he came back from a race in Zambia, he had picked up an injury, so I didn’t have anyone to push me.
“It affected my preparations a bit, we had to focus on strength sessions . . . it was for two weeks. But I think I can defend my title.”
However, he admits it is not going to be easy as the race features most of the country’s top distance runners.
“It’s not going to be easy. It’s going to be tough because everyone is always at their best, especially now that we are coming from the Joshua Nkomo Marathon,” Waison said.
However, Waison’s first stop before going to Victoria Falls is the Tanganda half marathon on Sunday in Mutare.
“We have Tanganda this weekend. We are going together with Godwin (Katakura) and will run the half marathon.
“Every year we start with Tanganda, then we go to Victoria Falls. And every year I target the top five.
“If I win the race, it’s a bonus, or top three it’s a bonus, but I always make sure I make top five.”
Last year he finished fourth.
Katakura, who finished third last year behind Waison and veteran Isaac Mpofu said he will compete in the 21km race at this year’s edition.
“I am going for half marathon. I am no longer doing 42km.
“I went for a race in Zambia, and I got injured. I fell and injured my hip, so I had to stop preparations for 42km to heal first, and I realised it’s too late to go for 42km,” said Katakura.
“I had to take a break for close to two weeks.
“My target is to make the top five because of that break. It affected a lot of things, even my fitness I won’t be at my best. So, top five will be fair,” said Katakura.
Katakura has also had his outstanding moments, winning the CBZ Marathon in a course record time of 2 hours 16 minutes 53 seconds.
He went on to set a new personal best of 2 hours 8 minutes 47 seconds when finishing second at the ADAC Marathon Hannover in Germany in April before winning the Joshua Nkomo Peace Marathon also held in the same month.
