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Ricky Zililo, Senior Sports Reporter
DEFENDING champions of the Liquor Hub 10km Fun Run, Kelvin Pangiso and Rutendo Nyahora headline a list of Zimbabwe’s top athletes who will compete at the second edition of the race on Sunday.

Nyahora won the inaugural Liquor Hub 10KM Fun Run in 34 minutes 54.23 seconds, while Pangiso triumphed in the men’s category, crossing the line in 30 minutes 36.40 seconds.

Nyahora beat a strong field that included runner-up Constance Nyasango, who finished in 36 min 48.02s, Yvette Makamure (42 min 50.58s) and Linnet Tomu (46 min 33.86s).

Pangiso beat Tendai Zimuto (30 min 50.06s) in a tightly contested race.

Manuel Mpofu, the Bulawayo Athletics Board (BAB) chairman said 10 top athletes – Nyahora, Pangiso, Jonathan Chinyoka,Patience Murove, Wellington Varevi, Nkosiyazi Sibanda, Trust Chidomaya, Constance Nyasango, Faith Nyasango and Jacob Mugomeri — have confirmed that they are coming to Bulawayo for the race sponsored to the tune of $10 000.

Mpofu said registration closes tomorrow afternoon at the Liquor Hub which is along Fife Street, between Fourth and Fifth Avenues. Registration fees have been set at $5 for seniors and $2 for the juniors.

“Registration has been slow but this is typical of every race because most athletes prefer to register on the last day.

“However, on a good note, we’ve got 10 top athletes who have told us that they’re coming and will be in Bulawayo on Saturday before registration closes. So, it will be a good field made up of experienced and up and coming athletes,” said Mpofu.

Over 400 people registered for last year’s race, with a bulk of that number being health enthusiasts who were competing for charity.

The bulk of the sponsorship package will be donated to charity organisations, with the  top three in the senior men and women’s races each getting $500, $300 and $200.

The junior men’s and women’s first prize is $150, runners-up $100 and third-placed $50.

Wheelchair race winners in both the men’s and women’s categories will get $200 and runners-up $150.There are no prizes for the masters and grandmasters’ categories.

Mpofu said the race will start at Liquor Hub along Fife Street, between 4th and 5th Avenues. Athletes will run east along 4th Avenue past the Old Mutual Heath Streak Cricket Academy to the Hindu Community Centre in Khumalo. Participants will race back into town using the same route. —

@Zililo