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Sports Reporter
VETERAN long-distance runner Mike Fokorani and Collen Makaza raised the country’s flag high when he came first at the Two Oceans Ultra marathon over the weekend in Cape Town, South Africa.

Fokorani romped to victory in 3 hours 13 minutes 33 seconds.

The Bindura-based runner, who has been competing in the event for the past two editions, finally got it right this time around to claim the title for the 56km race.

It was a Zimbabwean affair as fellow countryman Collen Makaza came in on second position in a time of 3 hours 14 minutes 45 seconds.

For Makaza it was a repeat of the same performance after he came second last year in 3 hours 12 minutes 41 seconds.

In 2014 he won the IAU 50km World Trophy final in Doha, Qatar.

Makaza first won the IAU race in 2010, in Galway, Ireland.

And the star continues to shine for Zimbabwean athletes as they continue doing well in such big events as the Two Oceans. Other Zimbabweans that have previously won the race include Marko Mambo, who won the ultra-marathon three times, Moses Njodzi and Stephen Muzhingi.

National Athletics Association of Zimbabwe president, Tendai Tagara, said it’s good to see local athletes doing well in such competitions.

“He (Fokorani) represented Zimbabwe at the World Championships in Osaka, Japan in 2007 and he qualified for the 2008 Beijing Olympics. So he has been running in the 42km and he is graduating into ultra-marathon.

“He has been pushing in the past editions, he has been running in the top 10 which was a good indication. And if you look at them (Fokorani and Makaza) they have matured.

“I think we are going back to where Marko Mambo left. It means the future of ultra-marathon is good for us. I am happy they are moving their standard up to win the ultra-marathon, which is also good for their welfare because they get good prizes there,” said Tagara.