SEASONED long-distance athlete Cutbert Nyasango who last took part in a Bulawayo race more than a decade ago, came back in style winning the Old Mutual 10km fun run in Bulawayo yesterday.
Sukoluhle Mthethwa Sports Reporter
Nyasango beat favourite and defending champion Wirimai Juwawo in a tightly contested race which started and ended at Nkulumane Complex.
Nyasango, the Kuwadzana Athletics Club athlete romped home in 29mins 24,63secs while Juwawo crossed the line in 29mins 32,69secs.
In winning the race Nyasango broke Juwawo’s record best of 29mins 50,3secs set in 2012 and last years’ time of 30mins 14,89secs. Nyasango was ecstatic over his victory.
“The race was good, I can’t complain. I do not have any injuries. I won this race because I ran the Prague Marathon three weeks ago. I am still in good form. When you run a race tactics always help when you are training and on the race. I always try to know and use my strengths and I use them. I have a lot of experience I have been running for 15 years.
“It is first-winning this race. The last time I ran in Bulawayo was in 2003. Competition was tough, we ran very compactly until about 9km,” he said.
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Juwawo was satisfied with his performance.
“I am very happy. I was not expecting this because I have been sick, the past three weeks I have not been training. I lost it with a kilometre to go. If I had trained properly there would have been a chance to win,” he said.
Nyasango and Juwawo faced tough challenge from Elijah Mabhunu who was threatening to win the race, but was outpaced towards the end. Mabhunu clocked 29mins 41,17seconds.
Olivia Chitate successfully defended her title when she romped home in 34mins 07,09secs an improvement from last year’s time of 35mins 32,71secs.
Constance Nyasango, sister to the men’s 10km champion was second after she crossed the line in 34mins 23,71secs while South Africa-based athlete Rutendo Nyahora was third in a time of 34mins 58,90secs.
“The race was very tough. I broke away from the rest on 7km. It is a miracle, I didn’t expect to win because I have not been feeling well for the past months. It was very tough because everyone wanted to win,” Chitate said.
Cutbert and Chitate pocketed $1 000 each for their efforts while the runners-up and third-placed athletes in both the men and women’s category received $750 and $500 respectively.
Elford Moyo from Danhiko won the first prize of $600 after coming first in the men’s wheelchair category.
He recorded a time of 30mins 18,37secs followed by Samson Muroyiwa from Zvishavane who received $300 for coming second in 30mins 53,63secs with Munyaradzi Katiyo from Danhiko clocking 35mins 20,22secs to pocket $100.
Thandiwe Ndlovu was first in the women’s wheelchair category getting home in 44mins 58,73secs.
Margaret Bangajena followed in 45mins 10,87secs with Dorcas Hwatira third in 45mins 35,18secs.
Ndlovu, Bangajena and Hwatira received the same amount as the men.
Kuwadzana High School student Tendai Zimuto clinched the junior men’s title finishing the race in 30mins 40,04secs and he finished fifth in the seniors’ category.
Patience Gurure won the junior women’s award after clocking 41mins 28,67secs.
The winners in the juniors category got $200 each respectively.
Sidalisiwe Ndlovu won the veteran women’s section as she completed the race in 57mins 57secs and Amos Chedondo won the veteran men race in 34mins 00,91secs walking away with $200 each.
Jethro Msongelwa Thebe won $200 for coming first n the grandmasters section clocking 41mins 47,43secs while Benjamin Mpofu pocketed the same amount for winning the masters’ category in 43mins 10,24secs.
13-year-old Londis Ncube won the 5km fun run as she clocked 20mins 10,75secs while the men’s section was won by Bornface Jeki in 17mins 25secs.
However, there was a delay of about three hours on the prize-giving ceremony as there seemed to be confusion in the verification of results.
