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WHEELCHAIR athletes from Zimbabwe left their mark at the Outeniqua Wheelchair Challenge in South Africa when they won four gold medals and a silver. Nine athletes went to South Africa last week where Wilson Nyakoko came first in the T51-52 men’s half marathon while compatriot Alex Mkandla was crowned the champion in the men’s 42km race at the weekend.
Another gold medal came from Dorcas Hwatira who won the women’s 21km race while Thandiwe Ndlovu won another gold in the women’s T53-54 division.
Ndlovu stopped the clocks in 2 hours 28 min.
The other Zimbabweans in the same division, Margret Bangajena and Madeline Madzivire, failed to beat the cut-off time of 3 hours as she finished in 3 hours 5 mins and 3 hours 8 mins respectively.
They claimed their wheelchairs developed faults along the race.
In the men’s T53-54 category, seasoned racer Elford Moyo came second with Samson Muroyiwa and Edmund Makutya coming fifth and sixth.
The Outeniqua Wheelchair Challenge saw some of the top racers from across the world converging in South Africa for the marathon, half marathon and the 10km run.
Chris Katore, who travelled as the manager of the team, believes his athletes left a big impression.
“Some of the athletes had their bikes developing punctures during the race and I also think that we should have done better if we had modern chairs.
“Overally I can say we performed well,” said Katore.
The team is expected back home today.
Online Reporter