BLANKET Mine athlete Wellington Varevi emerged the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair (ZITF) Coca-Cola Four-Minute Mile Challenge champion beating a strong field of athletes at the ZITF Main Arena yesterday.
Sukoluhle Mthethwa Sports Reporter
He walked away with $800 after finishing the tightly-contested race in a time of four minutes 17secs despite failing to beat the time of the winners of the 2013 edition of the race which was won by Simbarashe Chikadaga in a time of four minutes 10,10secs.
Varevi was ecstatic after winning the competition sponsored by Delta Beverages under their Coca-Cola brand.
“The race was OK. I wasn’t tired because I had been on a very tight programme in preparation for the competition.
“I won the race because I managed to sprint in the last 200m. The trick was that I would stay in touching distance with whoever was in front. I am happy because last year I was number four this year I have won it,” he said.
Varevi beat favourite Wirimai Juwawo who looked set to win the race but slowed down by the time he picked up pace towards the end of the race it was already late.
Juwawo finished in a time of four minutes 18secs walking away with $400 in the process.
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He said he was pleased with his perfomance.
“The race was fine. I had not taken part in this event for six years. I have been specialising in marathons.I haven’t been taking part in this competition mostly because it has been clashing with other events. I am happy. The competition was tough probably because they are youngsters competing,” he said.
In third place was Fairbridge athlete Isaac Mpofu who clocked four minutes 19secs while former champion Chikadaga got a time of four minutes 22secs to come fourth.
However, Chikadaga insisted that he had finished on position three.
Elijah Mabhunu from Mashava was fifth in four minutes 24secs while South Africa-based Givemore Mudzinganyama was sixth in a time of four minutes two seconds.
The third-placed athlete received $350. Fourth placed pocketed $300 while the fifth and the sixth-placed athletes received $250 and $175 respectively. Trust Chidomaya of Fairbridge crossed the line in seventh position in 4mins 28secs collecting $125.
Tawanda Matunhu from Blanket Mine received $100 after getting a time of 4mins 30secs, Simbarashe Taderera from Sparrows finished the race in 4mins 35secs while Nomore Wiriki from Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Services clocked four minutes 36secs.
The two walked away with $75 and $50 respectively.
