Zim stars settle for bronze

Veronica Gwaze in NYANGA

ZIMBABWEAN triathlete Makanaka Mawere was yesterday the toast of Nyanga as the 17-year-old claimed a bronze medal at the Bonaqua Africa Triathlon Cup.

She finished third behind South Africans Kira Ribbink — the defending champion — and Anika Visser in the junior category.

The Hellenics Academy star was one of two bronze medalists, with Greer Wynn also finishing third behind South Africans Bridget Theunissen and Hannah Newman.

The athletes battled it out in a 750-metre swim, 20-kilometre cycling and 5-kilometre run race.

But the day belonged to Mawere, who had just recovered from a shoulder injury sustained in June at the African Championships in Egypt.

After the race, the teenager said the feat was beyond her expectations.

“I performed beyond my expectations and I am happy with my performance,” said Mawere.

“I am still getting over a bad injury and such a performance comes as a huge motivation for me to keep going; to push even harde and get better,” she said.

This is her second appearance at the race, having had an impressive debut in the last edition, in which she finished seventh.

Earlier this year, she grabbed another bronze in Egypt.

Despite having transitioned from a swimmer to a cyclist less than five years ago, Mawere has already found her footing as a triathlete.

“It was a tough race: The altitude, biking and the run were all challenging.

“I had to push myself. There was no one I could pair myself with, so I had to be mentally strong. It was also fun and I am charmed by the support. It was amazing!”

The athlete, who raced in the Under-19 category in Egypt, is already eyeing the world stage.

“My cycling should improve because what I want is not only to make it to the world stage, but to do well. I am actually training towards that,” she said.

Elite athlete Wynn, who had health complications on Friday after suffering food poisoning, feels she was not up to the competition.

“I got into it with a half tank because of what happened yesterday (Friday).

“I was really down,” she said.

“The swim was fun and I finished among the top athletes, which gave me a boost.

“I then had to capitalise on cycling because that is my strength. The run was tough because of the illness. I just told myself that I will race for Zimbabwe and that is what I did.”

Meanwhile, South Africa’s Rossouw Venter, John Makona of Kenya and Johannes Van Der Westhuizen were the top three, respectively, in junior male category.