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Thupeyo Muleya Beitbridge Bureau Chief
DEFENDING champion Nkosiyazi Sibanda of Blanket Mine, Matabeleland’s top marathon runner, will carry the hopes of the nation in Saturday’s 10th edition of the Two Countries Marathon.The event involves athletes from South Africa and Zimbabwe.

Competition will start on the Zimbabwean side with athletes running into South Africa. Sibanda is expected to headline the Zimbabwean field.

Over 200 athletes are expected to grace the annual event which will include a 42,2km and 21,1km road race and a 10km fun walk. The 42,2km race will start at Nottingham Farm turn off, 10km outside Beitbridge town along the Bulawayo road and end at Eric Louw High School in Musina, South Africa.

The two countries marathon is being organised by South Africa’s Musina Municipality and Beitbridge as part of celebrating the twinning agreement of 1996. Since its inception, the race has been dominated by Zimbabwean athletes especially in the 42,2km and the half marathon. Zimbabweans race co-ordinator Peter Ncube said on Monday that a total of 45 athletes had registered for the 42,2km race.

“All arrangements are in place. We hope for good weather on the day.

“The weather forecast at this stage for the race day is a sunny clear day with a maximum temperature of 33 degrees.

“We received just over 45 entries for the 42km race, which is slightly less than the number of last year.

“Further we have an increase in the number of South African athletes, but a big decrease in the number of athletes from Zimbabwe (only 11 athletes entered).

“However, the top three men’s finishers from last year Nkosiyazi Sibanda (winner), Kudakwashe Kanduna (second) and Charles Soza (third), who are all Zimbabwean, have entered for this year’s race,” he said.

Ncube said Jane Mudau who came up first in the women’s category had not yet registered for the race this year.

He said Muchaneta Gwata and Chiedza Chikoore will represent Zimbabwe in the main race.

The co-ordinator said Tawapo Bhiri, Lyno Muchena, Fredrick Mavhunduse, Amos Chedondo, Chamwaita Chikoore and Collin Kanyimo will also participate in the two countries’ race.

“We are looking forward to a very successful event this year. Most of the athletes are from South Africa and Zimbabwe, except for two entries from Japan. “It is unfortunate that we were not able to grow the number of athletes this year. In the case of South African athletes the main stumbling block is that most of them have no passports.

“We hope that the crossing of the border this year will go smoothly, so that the athletes will be able to start on time. This will have a positive effect on the experience of the athletes on race day, and help to get them returning to the race in future years.

“From the starters’ list, it seems that a large number of the athletes will be taking part in the race for the first time. Only 16 athletes from 2013 have returned to the race this year,” he said.

Ncube said the winners of the main race will pocket R7,000, R4,500 and R3,000 along with gold, silver and bronze medals.