adminTakudzwa Chitsiga Sports Reporter
VETERAN runner Nigel Mutandiro will miss the third edition of the country’s richest athletics event – The Old Mutual Westgate half-marathon – choosing to run in a 42km race next week.
Mutandiro was expected to give defending champion Cuthbert Nyasango stiff competition as another top athlete Wirimayi Juwawo has not fully recovered from a hamstring injury.
The sponsorship package this year was increased to US$150 000 with US$30 000 set aside for the prize money.
The race, set for tomorrow, reclaimed its status as the country’s richest race after the sponsors pegged the winning stakes at US$3 000 for the main race.
Mutandiro believes there is so much competition in the local races and his absence will not make any difference.
The athlete is set to take part in the Malsa Bay 42km marathon next weekend and believes he will do well.
“It’s unfortunate that I am not going to take part in the half-marathon as I have another race in a week’s time,” Mutandiro said.
“I have prepared so much and if the event was scheduled for early September, more top local athletes could have taken part but with a marathon, which we usually train for, coming next week, I will miss out.”
The veteran athlete said they were not snubbing local races for the South African ones.
“I cannot take anything away from the Old Mutual Westgate half-marathon as it is the richest race but the dates clashed with my programme.
“I will be at the event cheering the other guys,” said Mutandiro.
Juwawo said he was still nursing an injury.
Juwawo won the inaugural edition of the event in 2012.
“I had a hamstring strain and so this will work as part of my recovery as I try to be fit for the full marathon.
“I was injured around February and in August when I had recovered I over-trained for the full marathon and that affected me again.
“After the race I can then be assessed to see if I can start to train for marathon races. Recently, I have been training for half-marathons and I expect to be back in good shape by December.
“I last took part in a half-marathon in Colombia back in February,” Juwawo said.
However, one prominent athlete expected to feature in the race is defending champion Kevin Pangiso.
In the women’s section last year’s winner Constance Nyasongo could be the one to beat.
Online Reporter