THE winner of today’s Old Mutual Westgate Half Marathon is set to pocket a whopping US$3 000.
REPORT BY RANGANAI DZOTIZEI The event will be run under the blessings of the National Athletics Association of Zimbabawe (Naaz) and would be bound by rules and regulation of the International Athletics Association Federation (IAAF).
A total of 3 000 athletes are expected to take part in the half marathon, which started as a fun run last year but has grown to become the richest athletics event on the 2012 athletics calendar. By Thursday, 1 500 athletes had registered to take part in the race.
The event is set to attract renowned athletes that will include defending champion in both the men and women’s categories, Kevin Pangiso, who won the race in time of 50:27 last year and Rutendo Nyahore, who clocked 50:50.
Some of the athletes that have confirmed participation in the main event include Abel Munyongi, Simba Matuga and Alex Musa.
The event will comprise four races — 21km, 10 km, 5km and a 5,25km x4 relay.
According to Old Mutual spokesperson, Grace Mukahanana, the event is aimed at giving back to the community while unearthing potential athletics gems of the future as well as rewarding the fading giants of the sport.
“We are excited by the response to date as this race has managed to attract all our valued clients from the young and the old, much in line with the Westgate Shopping Centre ‘family theme’,” she said.
