adminFrom Tupeyo Muleya in BEITBRIDGE
ZIMBABWEAN athletes fared well in the seventh edition of the Two Nations Marathon which was jointly hosted by Zimbabwe and South Africa on Saturday morning. Nkosiyazi Sibanda of Blanket Mine won the main event when he came home in 2 hours 27 minutes 20 seconds in the 42,2 km race.
His countrymen Kudakwashe Kanduna and Charles Hoza finished second and third respectively.
Liz Chikoore of Nedbank Athletics Club also raised the country’s flag high when she romped home in 3 hours 15 minutes. South Africa’s Gladys Lukwareni was second with Muchaneta Gwata of Nedbank Athletics Club in third place.
The main race, which was scheduled to start at 6am, got underway an hour later owing to some logistical issues at the South African border post.
Only those athletes with passports were registered for the event this year.
The main event started at Nottingham Estate turn-off, some 10km outside Beitbridge town along the Beitbridge-Bulawayo highway, and finished at Eric Louw High School in Musina.
Zimbabwe’s race co-ordinator Beatrice Ponella praised the local contingent for the way they flew the country’s flag very high. “We are very happy considering that Zimbabwe had the least number of athletes compared to our counterparts.
“We hope to build on this success for next year’s race and we are looking forward to having more athletes participating,” she said.
Online Reporter