admin
Leonard Ncube
SPECIALLY-abled athletes who participated in the recent Econet Victoria Falls 2024 Marathon have expressed concern about the terrain on some parts of the route and the allocation of prizes.
Speaking soon after the prize-giving ceremony at the July 7 event at Baobab Primary School in Victoria Falls, the athletes said while they were considered equal to able-bodied athletes by starting and finishing at the same point within the school grounds, the same should reflect on prizes.
They said in the wheelchair and hand cycle categories, only the top three finishers were rewarded as opposed to the top 10 finishers in the mainstream races. Their collective concern was that the starting point was hard to manoeuvre out of because of the sandy soil and appealed to organisers to make them start and finish on a hard surface. Winner of the hand cycle half marathon race Previous Hwinya who also won the race in 2020 said the route was difficult.
“I participated in 2020 and came first but it was tough because the route was difficult. This year I managed to take the first position again and the route was difficult, especially at the starting and finishing point at this venue.
Our plea is that next year they should allow us to start from a hard surface like the tarred road because we are spending something like four to six minutes in the same position trying to move on the sand as there will be no one to push us,” he said.
Vivian Mlambo, the only representative of the specially-abled from Victoria Falls finished in fourth place. Last year, he finished in third position and got a phone.
“I did the half marathon in hand cycling and finished fourth in 01:31:00. I am a bit disappointed because last year I finished third and got something, but this year I didn’t get anything as I finished fourth. Anyway, it was a great day and we enjoyed it and I hope I will improve.
“It’s a fantastic experience, but the only thing is the sand at the finishing point. I wish they could change the route so that we start and finish on hard ground. Also, when it comes to specially-abled, it looks like they limit the prizes and give the top three only.
Last year, they gave the top two and when we complained they gave us some prizes, which is how I got a phone. But if you look at the able-bodied, they take up to number 10. We don’t want to be discouraged by that though as everything else is fantastic besides that,” he said.
Samson Muroyiwa from Harare won the wheelchair race for the third consecutive year in 01:07:19 seconds after coming first in 2022 and last year.
“I have participated for many years since the event started even though I wasn’t winning. I worked very hard and I won in 2022 and 2023 and I have once again won in 2024 despite the course,” he said.
In second and third place were Elford Moyo and Munyaradzi Katiyo who finished in 01:09:51 seconds and 01:11:30 respectively. Silas Mhepo from Masvingo clocked 01:15:29 in the hand cycle while Lameck Rashai finished in 01:23:27.
“The race was good, but the only thing I want to advise the organisers is about the finishing point, which is tough because of the sand. The area is not easy for the wheelchair,” said Rashai.
In the female wheelchair category, Thandiwe Ndlovu finished first in 01:28:51 followed by Stellah Jongwe in 01:32:24 and in third place Margerette in 01:34:47.Ratidzo Tomu finished in 01:51:02 and Sifiso Moyo in 02:31:56 in the female hand cycle category.
The hand cycle and wheelchair male and female marathon winners got US$400 each while the second placed received US$300 and the third US$250 each. Male and female full marathon winners in the able-bodied categories received US$1 500 each while 10th placed finishers got US$100 each. In the male and female half marathon category, winners received US$750 each with the 10th place finishers getting US$50 each.—@ncubeleon
derick.khumalo