Waison wins 2023 Econet Victoria Falls Marathon

HARARE based Cadence Athletics Club runner Blessing Waison improved his time by three minutes from last year’s performance to win the 2023 Econet Victoria Falls Marathon in 2 hours 15 minutes 11 seconds.

Zimbabwe runners dominated the event which attracted over 4 500 runners from 42 countries including the hosts.

No foreigner made it into the top 10 in both the male and female 42km races where Ethel Pangiso was the women’s winner in 2 hours 41 minutes 51 seconds.

In the men’s 21km, there were two Zambians namely Costern Chiyaba who finished eighth after romping home in one hour 06 minutes 02 seconds and Roderick Mudenda in ninth, who finished 34 seconds behind his countryman, while Elizabeth Mukoloma and Elizabeth Daka were also the only foreigners who made it to the top 10 in the women’s category, after finishing in one hour 24 minutes 01 seconds (4th) and one hour 27 minutes 21 seconds (eighth) respectively.

Mukoloma and Daka are also Zambians. Moses Tarakinyu of Black Rhinos Athletics Club won the men’s 21km competition in one hour 04 minutes 15 seconds, closely beating newcomer Wayne Kabondo from Adventist Athletics Club who was runner up in one hour 04 minutes 39 seconds and Tendai Zimuto, also from Black Rhinos who completed the race in one hour 05 minutes 19 seconds.

Tarakinyu was however 45 seconds slower than his last year’s performance when he finished in one hour 03 minutes 03 seconds.

To complete the Half Marathon top 10 were Isaac Mpofu, Abel Chibanda, Tatenda Shorepa, Andrew Dick, Chiyaba, Mudenda and Goldern Mhondererwa.

In the women’s Half Marathon was Patience Garauzive who romped home in one hour 19 minutes 16 seconds followed by Betha Sitariko who finished in one hour 20 minutes 20 seconds to be runner up for the second year running, and in third place was Rudo Mhonderwa who finished in one hour 23 minutes 39 seconds.

To complete the list were Mukoloma, Emilia Mukungatu, Ossly Murambidzi, Melody Chokonzi, Daka, Tatenda Chichangana and Tariro Matungamidze.

In the 42.2km men’s race, Waison beat second placed Elijah Mabhunu by more than two minutes (2:17:21) while Lyno Muchena was third in 2 hours 17 minutes 30 seconds.
Prosper Mutwira once again finished fourth in 2 hours 17 minutes 41 seconds while another veteran Mike Fokoroni dropped from fifth last year to eighth, in 2 hours 22 minutes 32 seconds.

Last year’s winner Jonathan Chinyoka was relegated to 7th position after managing to finish in 2 hours 22 minutes 08 seconds.

In 5th was Trust Hove (02:19:41), while in 6th was Tawanda Bvunzawabaya who finished in 2 hours 20 minutes 57 seconds.

The relay category was won by Red Arrows of Zambia in the men’s category while Black Rhinos won the women’s.

Black Rhinos also won the mixed relay.
Samson Muroyiwa won the 18km category for men with disabilities while Stella Jongwe was the women’s champion in the wheelchair category.

Lameck Rashai and Moline Muza were respective winners in the hand cycle of the same race.

Econet chief operations officer Kezito Makuni said the event will continue to grow bigger and better.
He thanked organisers, Wild Frontiers and other partners for the success of the event which is in its 15th year as Econet also celebrates its Silver Jubilee.
— @ncubeleon