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Thupeyo Muleya in Beitbridge
LONG distance runner Nkosiyazi Sibanda lifted the country’s flag high again this year after winning the 11th edition of the two countries marathon involving Zimbabwe and South Africa between Beitbridge and Musina on Saturday morning. Sibanda of Blanket Mine Athletics Club won the marathon for the sixth year in a row after romping home in 2 hours 30 minutes.

His time was, however, seven minutes slower from last year’s record owing to the high temperatures on the day. The 42,2km race started at Nottingham turn-off 10km outside Beitbridge town along the Bulawayo Road and ended at Eric Louw High School in Musina, South Africa. Both the 21,1km and 9km races started and finished at Eric Louw High School.

In second position of the main race was another Zimbabwean, Elijah Mutandiro who arrived in 2 hours 35 minutes followed by South African Lucas Nonyana five minutes later. In the women’s category Mutare sisters — Lizzy and Chiedza Chokore – came out in first and second positions respectively in 3 hours 10 minutes followed by South Africa’s Gladys Lukwareni 15 minutes later.

Other Zimbabweans who also added their names to the success list by winning the 21km race, were Gilbert Mutandiro, Wellington Varevi in first and second positions in the men’s category followed by a Kenyan resident in South Africa, Felix Rop.

Veteran athlete Samukheliso Moyo also added colour to the event by winning both the veteran and open 21km races in the women’s category followed by Paulina Powo and Hilda Malokome in second and third positions.

The 10 km race men category was won by another athlete from blanket mine athletics club, Vivian Moyo who finished in front of Mutshidzi Muravha of South Africa and Tawanda Mhandu from Zimbabwe. The South Africans dominated the women’s 10km race and the junior race which had no Zimbabwean athletes.

Seipati Makwaba, Ntanganedzeni Mangwe and Natah Louw all from Limpopo province were the winners of the 10 KM women race. For their efforts race winners received R7 000, medals and cellphones sponsored by Vodacom for those in first position. The first and second runners-up received R4 500 and R3 000 respectively.

Race co-ordinator Nell Ferreira said the event was a great success considering that all went well according to plan and that they were working on increasing the prize money for next year. “We started late but we are happy we did not encounter any challenges with border authorities from both Zimbabwe and South Africa” he said.