THE Old Mutual 10km race which had been set for next Sunday is in doubt as sponsors are yet to confirm the event with the Bulawayo Athletics Board (BAB).
SUKOLUHLE MTHETHWA
The race which had been initially scheduled for June 23, has been moved to September 15 on the request of the sponsors.
BAB secretary general Dailes Bingadadi yesterday told Southern Eye Sport that the sponsors were yet to confirm if the race is going totake place.
“I am still not sure if the race is going to be held on September 15 as I am still to get official communication from the sponsors,” she said.
“I have tried to communicate with them by phone and by writing e-mails, but nothing has come out as of now. “The athletes keep calling me to find out if the race is on, but I am also still in the dark because one of the sponsors just said they were waiting for communication from their Harare office.
“One of them said the race would be held in November, but we need the dates because we have other races in that month as well.”
The Old Mutual race which made a comeback last year after almost two decades, was sponsored to the tune of $5 950.
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South Africa-based athlete Rutendo Nyahora and Wirimai Juwawo won last year’s race in the women and men’s categories respectively.
Nyahora finished the race in 34mins 38secs, Olivia Chitate from Zimbabwe Republic Police was runner-up in 35mins 10secs while independent athlete Constance Nyasango was third in 36mins 30secs.
Juwawo, who represented Zimbabwe in the London Olympic Games in August last year, clocked 29mins 50,03secs to clinch the men’s category.
Last year’s race featured men and women’s race veterans, masters, grandmasters and juniors from 16-19 year categories.
A total of 250 athletes participated in last year’s competition which most athletes used to prepare for the Nkulumane Spar 10km race.
Other upcoming races in Bulawayo are the Joshua Mqabuko Half-Marathon, Hope Fountain 30km race and the Nkulumane Spar 10km road race.
