Nyasango sets new national record

By Newsday | May. 12, 2014

TOP Zimbabwe long-distance runner Cuthbert Nyasango set the new national marathon record on his way to finishing third at the Prague International Marathon in the Czech Republic yesterday to cement his status as the country’s leading marathon runner.

Cuthbert-Nyasango Nyasango, who was making a debut at the prestigious Iaaf Gold Label race, crossed the finish line in 2hrs, 9mins and 52secs to shatter Tendai Chimusasa 16-year-old national marathon record.

The previous national marathon record was 2hrs 10mins 57secs set by the now retired Chimusasa at the Hamburg Marathon in April 1998.

Nyasango’s previous personal best was 2hrs, 12mins, 8secs. Nyasango walked away with €5 000 for finishing third behind the winner Patrick Kipyegon Terer of Kenya.

Terer, who was third last year in Prague, completed the 20th edition of the race in 2hrs, 8mins and 7secs in rainy and windy conditions.

Another Kenyan, Evans Kiplagat Chebet, finished second in 2hrs, 8mins and 17secs ahead of the Nyanga-born Nyasango.

The Prague International Marathon is widely regarded as the world’s most important international marathon, with two-thirds of runners coming from 55 different countries.

Prague’s marathon course is also the seventh fastest and has been voted one of the most beautiful in the world. It was Nyasango’s only third major race this season and his first since finishing a commendable 11th at the Lisbon Marathon in March.

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Nyasango (31) is currently the country’s leading marathon runner after finishing a respectable seventh position at the 2012 London Olympic Games to record the best-ever marathon finish by a Zimbabwean at the quadrennial global sporting fiesta.

Prague International Marathon results: Top 10