Online Reporter
Ellina Mhlanga
Zimpapers Sports Hub
BLACK Rhinos Athletics Club runner Tendai Zimuto delivered a strong performance yesterday to win the Econet Victoria Falls Marathon for the second time.
Zimuto crossed the finish line in 2 hours 16 minutes 9 seconds, competing against a strong field that featured last year’s winner Blessing Waison.
Waison of Cadence Athletics Club came third in 2 hours 16 minutes 36 seconds behind Zimuto and Owen Slowly, who finished second with a time of 2 hours 16 minutes 19 seconds in a closely contested race.
For Zimuto, this is the second time he has won the Victoria Falls Marathon. His first victory was in 2024 with a time of 2 hours 17 minutes 14 seconds.
Yesterday’s win comes at a time when Zimuto has just begun preparations for the Berlin Marathon scheduled for September.
“I am happy since I have just started preparations for my upcoming major race.
“It’s shows that for my next competition we have somewhere to start with my coach in terms of the build-up. I think I ran a good time based on the course.
“I think we are on track, and I am happy I have won Vic Falls Marathon for the second time.
“It was a competitive field. We had top athletes in the country, and there were some Kenyans as well but I managed to win and I am happy about that,” said Zimuto.
Zimuto will be chasing qualification for next year’s World Athletics Championships when he takes part at the Berlin Marathon.
“I am not resting; I am going back to continue with preparations. Vic Falls was just part of my training, so I am not taking a break, we continue with training . . . I am now focusing on my next marathon.
“We are now chasing qualification so we want to focus on that.
“But I am happy with today’s results, that was something unexpected,” said Zimuto.
In the women’s category, Kenyan Sylvia Kwambai won race in 2 hours 46 minutes 6 seconds.
Last year’s winner Fortunate Chidzivo came second in 2 hours 47 minutes 12 seconds and Rutendo Nyahora placed third in 2 hours 50 minutes 52 seconds.
The winners in both the men and women’s categories received $3 000.
It was also a good day for Cadence Athletics Club’s Godwin Katakura as he emerged tops in the half marathon.
Fresh from winning the Tanganda half marathon a week ago, Katakura clocked 1 hour 4 minutes 29 seconds to win yesterday’s race as he continued with his dominance on the local scene.
Moses Tarakinyu from Black Rhinos Athletics Club placed second in 1 hour 5 minutes 8 seconds while Andrew Dick clocked 1 hour 6 minutes 8 seconds to complete the top three.
In the women’s category Mercy Chemutai won the race with a time of 1 hour 15 minutes 47 seconds.
Melody Kaseke was second in 1 hour 16 minutes 46 seconds and Peris Lobakan settled for third place in 1 hour 18 minutes 34 seconds.
For the half marathon the winners got $1 500.
