UNITED STATES-BASED Zimbabwean middle and long-distance runner Pardon Ndhlovu will be hoping to draw inspiration from his recent success at the Orlando half-marathon when he lines up for the annual Houston marathon on January 18. DANIEL NHAKANISO SPORTS REPORTER
Ndhlovu, who has set his sights on qualifying for the Rio Olympics, recently did the country proud after winning the Orlando half-marathon in Orlando, Florida on December 6.
The North Carolina-based runner crossed the finishing line first one hour, 7mins, 2secs.
Although Ndhlovu’s winning time in Florida was slower than Cuthbert Nyasango’s national half-marathon record of 1:00.26 set in Italy seven years ago, it further enhanced his growing status as one of the country’s most promising middle and long distance runners.
In an interview with our sister paper NewsDay Sport from his base in the US, Ndhlovu said although he was delighted with the win in Florida, his main target was to do well at the Houston Marathon.
“I was happy to have won the race (Orlando half-marathon) and it was more like redemption from last year,” he said.
“I used this race as preparation for the Houston marathon in January. As far as training is going, I am heading in the right direction and looking forward to a great race in Houston.”
The Houston marathon, whose last six editions have all been won by Ethiopian runners, takes place on January 18 in Houston, Texas, with a large field of 33 000 runners, the highest number of participants in the race’s 44-year history.
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Ethiopia’s Bazu Worku has won the last two editions of the prestigious race, finishing this year’s race in two hours, 7mins, 32secs, which was the third fastest time in the race’s history.
Ndhlovu will be hoping to do well next month in what he would be his first big race since stating his goal of qualifying for the Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.
The Harare-born runner excelled on an athletics scholarship at University of North Carolina at Pembroke from 2010 to 2013 before being appointed as the graduate assistant cross country and track coach at Georgia Regents University in Augusta while studying towards an MBA degree.
