Muzhingi wins Two Oceans Marathon

Sport
By Brian NkiwaneThree-times Comrades marathon winner Stephen Muzhingi beat more than 25 000 athletes to win the 43rd edition of the Old Mutual Two Oceans Marathon in South Africa yesterday.

Muzhingi battled the wet and windy conditions finishing the race in a time of 3:08.08, to bag his first win at the event.

For his sterling performance Muzhingi pocketed R250 000.

Henry Moyo of Malawi came second in time of 3:08.35 while Muzhingi’s countryman Collen Makaza was third finishing in time of 3:08.45 pocketing R125 000 and R65 000 respectively.

Gert Thys and his countryman Bongumusa Mthembu came fourth and fifth in time of 3:09.42 and 5 3:10.16 respectively. Muzhingi said he did what he had gone to do.

“I maintained my pace until the end,” he said.

 

Muzhingi added that his Comrades training also helped him in Cape Town.

“I’ve been training for Comrades. I was training with guys from Lesotho and that helped a lot.”

Last year’s edition of the same race was won by South Africa’s George Ntshiliza who stopped the clock at 03:08:31.Two Zimbabwean ladies Samukeliso Moyo and Lizzie Chokore made it into the top 10 after finishing fifth and seventh respectively.

Earlier, Xolisa Tyali won the Two Oceans Ultra Marathon.

In the ladies marathon, Joburger Rene Kalmer was first to cross the finish line, followed by Irvette van Blerk.Another Zimbabwean, Rutendo Nyahora made a mark by coming third in the 21km race, which she finished in 1:18.30.

The race was won by Rene Kalmer who hit the finishing line in time of 1:15.02 with Irvette van Blerk finishing second in time of 1:16.22.