THE sponsors of the prestigious Tanganda 21km Half-Marathon race have committed themselves to the race for the second year running.
REPORT BY KENNETH NYANGANI
The event made a dramatic comeback on the national athletics calendar last year since 2004 with Olympians Wirimayi Juwawo and Sharon Tavengwa asserting their status as top long distance runners in Zimbabwe when they won the race in their respective categories.
Juwawo, who finished a credible 15th at the 2012 London Olympic Games, stopped the clock in 1 hour 0,2 minutes 43 seconds to claim the US$500 on offer in the senior men’s open race while New Zim Steel’s Elmore Sibanda came second in a time of 1 hour 3 min 27 seconds with Kelvin Pangiso settling for third place in time of 1 hour 4 minutes 45seconds.
Tavengwa was the first female to cross the line in 1 hour 18min 7 seconds and Olivia Chitate was close on second on 1 hour 18 min 9 seconds. Constance Nyasango came third in 1 hour 18 min 51 seconds.
Over 500 athletes took part in the race last year.
In an interview with Standardsport the newly appointed Manicaland Athletics board chairman Joshua Matume said he was happy that the sponsors had committed themselves for the second year running and believes this year’s event will attract more runners than last year.
“We are happy that the sponsors of the race have committed themselves again this year with the Half-Marathon being the major race. The race has been slated for June 23 in Mutare,” he said.
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“The sponsors said that they are going to increase the sponsorship package for this year as we expect more athletes to grace the race,” he said.
South Africa-based Lyno Mu-chena, who won the Manicaland Diamond Marathon 42km race last year, said he was preparing for the race.
“I am going to take part in the race and I’m preparing for the race because this is one competition where you compete with the finest athletes in the country,” he said.
“It’s good for experience because you always improve when you compete with the best. This race will also fine tune me ahead of the Victoria Falls Marathon race,” added Muchena.
Last year’s event was used to select athletes that represented the country at the International Athletics Association Federation World Half-Marathon that was held in Bulgaria late last year.
