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Ricky Zililo Senior Sports Reporter
Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Services road-runner Lyno Muchena won the PPC sponsored Matopos 33-Miler Ultra-Marathon race that started at Moth Shrine in Matopo National Park and ended at Bulawayo Athletics Club yesterday.

Muchena — last year’s first runner-up to Charles Soza — won the gruelling race that saw athletes enduring a ragged and bumpy terrain from one of the rockiest areas in the country in three hours 13 minutes 59 seconds.

The Manicaland Province based athlete who was using the race to prepare for the Comrades Marathon, took home $750 prize money.

The Comrades Marathon is set for May 31 in Durban, South Africa and attracts top athletes from around the world.

An elated Muchena said: “It was a tough and painful race but I endured by the grace of God. The most challenging part of the race was after the halfway mark with about 20km left but that endurance was good practice for me before next month’s Comrades Marathon.”

Muchena got the better of Zimbabwe National Army athletes Andrew Chimbidzikai and Leonard Koki who came second and third respectively in three hours 14 minutes 14 seconds and three hours 16 minutes 34 seconds.

For being first and second runners-up, Chimbidzikayi pocketed $500 while Koki smiled home with $350.

With about 30km left, the three athletes were part of the leading pack which had Soza, Point Chaza who finished fourth and Liberty Malabwa. They broke away from the rest on the 40km mark, just after Tshabalala Game Park.

In the women’s category, Monica Kativhu who won the 2013 and 2014 editions of the Matopos 33-Miler failed to defend her title coming home second to Lizzie Chokore who clocked three hours 52 minutes 22 seconds.

Kativhu came a distant second in four hours 31 minutes 29 seconds.

Veteran long distance runner Samukeliso Moyo was third in four hours 31 minutes 35 seconds.

A star-studded half-marathon saw Jacob Mugomeri winning the men’s race beating the likes of pre-competition favourite Nkosiyazi Sibanda, Elijah Mabhunu and Phathisa Ngwabi after crossing the line in an hour five minutes 32 seconds.

Olivia Chitate maintained her dominance in the women’s category coming home in one hour 20 minutes 21 seconds.

Meanwhile, the Bulawayo Athletics Board will this morning hold a four-day National Level One coaching and officiating clinic at Gifford High School.

Facilitators for the course are Siphathisiwe Machaya, the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) area technical official responsible for the Southern Region and the National Athletics Association of Zimbabwe (Naaz) director of coaching, recruitment and talent identification Lisimathi Phakamile.

Results

33-Miler

Men: 1. Lyno Muchena (ZPCS, 3hrs 13mins 59sec); 2. Andrew Chimbidzikai (ZNA, 3hrs 14mins 14sec); 3. Leornard Koki (ZNA, 3hrs 16mins 34sec); 4. Point Chaza (ZPCS, 3hrs 19mins 02sec); 5. Peter Tumbure (3hrs 19mins 11sec); 6. Peter Mavhura (Lobels, 3hrs 22mins 31sec); 7. Kudakwashe Kanduna (Zimpost, 3hrs 23mins 39sec); 8. Allan Magwere (3hrs 24mins 24sec); 9. Nicholas Mugomeri (3hrs 26mins 17sec); 10. Liberty Malabwa (3hrs 27mins 26sec)

Women: 1. Lizzie Chokore (3hrs 52mins 22sec), 2. Monica Kativhu (4hrs 31mins 29sec), 4. Samukeliso Moyo (4hrs 40mins 35sec)

 

Half-Marathon (21.1km)

Men: 1. Jacob Mugomeri (1hr 05mins 32sec); 2. Kelvin Pangiso (1hr 06min 14sec); 3. Elijah Mabhunu (1hr 06mins 35sec); 4. George Majaji (1hr 06mins 44sec); 5. Tendai Zimuto (1hr 07mins 02sec), 6. Nkosiyazi Sibanda (1hr 07mins 09sec), 7. Adam Marizondo (1hr 09mins 26sec), 8. Millen Matende (1hr 09mins 26sec), 9. Jonathan Chinyoka (1hr 10mins 32sec), 10. Phathisa Ngwabi (1hr 12mins 58sec)

Women: 1. Olivia Chitate (1hr 20mins 25sec); 2. Constance Nyasango (1hr 20mins 40sec); 3. Faith Nyasango (1hr 22mins 08sec); 4. Tabitha Tsatsa (1hr 22mins 47sec); 5. Patience Murowe (1hr 23mins 17sec)

Relays 33-Miler

Men: 1. ZRP Support Unit (2hrs 49mins 03sec); 2. Blanket Mine (2hrs 58mins 55sec); 3. Black Rhinos (3hrs 01mins 24sec)

Women: 1. Black Rhinos (3hrs 20mins 14sec)