Zimpapers Logo

Lovemore Dube Senior Sports Editor
TOP seeds Jacob Mugomeri and Rutendo Nyahora won the 2014 Nkulumane Choppies 10KM road race yesterday morning.
Run in sweltering heat, the race still produced a credible time in the senior men’s event won by Mugomeri, the Zimpost employee.Mugomeri was home in 27 minutes 45.81 seconds in the second fastest time ever run on the course. His effort was however shy of the course record set by Wirimai Juwawo in 2012 of 27 minutes 06 seconds.

“It’s a credible time, the finishing was exciting, Juwawo lacked the stamina to bag it,” said Bulawayo Athletics Board chairman Manuel Mpofu.

He said the event attracted a field of more than 180 athletes and he was happy with the quality of the field.

Mugomeri said he led after two kilometres and ran to the end under stiff competition from Juwawo and Elijah Mabhunu.

“I took the lead after two kilometres and ran all the way to the finishing Line. I am happy to have won the race,” said Mugomeri.

Juwawo who was home in 28 minutes 0.77 seconds, conceded that he lacked the finishing sprint.

Elijah Mabhunu winner of the Gutu Half Marathon was back on the podium with a third place finish in a credible 28 minutes 09.45 seconds.

ZRP’s Ngonidzashe Ncube was fourth in 28 minutes 11.90 seconds.

Nyahora continued with her success story by winning the women’s event in 32 minutes 37.28 seconds.

Constance Nyasango was second in 33 minutes 11.52 seconds with veteran Olivia Chitate third on 33 minutes 52.66 seconds.

Queen of Marathons Sharon Tavengwa who recently returned from injury, clocked 35 minutes 02.45 seconds to claim fourth position.

“It was a good race. I am looking forward to next year and I wish to run a qualifying standard for the marathon in order to qualify for the All-Africa Games or the World Championships,” said Tavengwa.

In the men’s juniors’ category Tendai Zimuto was first in 29 minutes 35.57 minutes with Tinorwa Richmond second in 31 minutes 05.31 seconds.

Mpopoma High School’s James Rugwevera trained Hlalani Ngwenya was third in 31 minutes 39.88 seconds with Titus Nyathi, a representative of Zimbabwe in the forthcoming Africa Union Region Five Games coming fourth.

The Region Five Games athletes dominated the girls’ category occupying the top three positions with Caroline Mhandu running the distance in 35 minutes 21.02 seconds while Enlita Ncube covered it in 36 minutes 10.55 seconds. Teammate Anna Bungu was third in 36 minutes 42.27 seconds with Mutare Academy’s Tanyaradzwa Mukuruzado coming fourth in 37 minutes 18.22 seconds.

Samson Muroyiwa ruled the roost in the men’s wheelchair category finishing in 28 minutes 43.11 seconds with veteran Elford Moyo second in 28 minutes 45.10 seconds.

Munyaradzi Katino was third (34 minutes 16.75 seconds) and Meli Ncube fourth in a distant time of 57 minutes 38.15 seconds.

In the women’s category, Ratidzo Tom of Qhubeka was first in 45 minutes 10.20 seconds. Thandiwe Ndlovu was second in 51 minutes 58.13 seconds and Dorcas Wahia of Danhiko third in 52 minutes 20.19 seconds.

Winners in the men and women’s categories got R5,000 with runners up receiving R3,500 and third placed R3,000.

Junior men and women’s top finishers received R4,000, R2,500, R2,000 and R1,000 respectively while in the wheel chair section the top four got R3,500, R2,000, R1,500 and R1,000 respectively.