Sikhumbuzo Moyo Senior Sports Reporter
DEFENDING champion and four-time Econet Victoria Falls Marathon winner, Nkosiyazi Sibanda has finally registered for Sunday’s meet vowing to defend his title.
The Association of International Marathon and Distance Races-registered race has attracted 823 entries for the full and half marathons as well as the 7.5KM fun run. “Yes, I’ve registered for the meet and I’m confident that I’ll defend my title. My preparations have been going on well and I feel I’m in great shape,” said Sibanda.
The Blanket Mine athlete will be competing in his first major race this year and he felt this would be an added advantage to his quest to claim an unprecedented fifth title. Last year he won the full marathon in a time of 2 hours, 21 minutes 40 seconds.
“Burn out is out of the question for me,” he quipped.
Sibanda has shrugged off competition in the past three years, winning the last three consecutive races.
He first won the marathon in 2010 and skipped the 2011 event.
Winners of this year’s full marathon, both men and women will walk away with $900 while half marathon winners are set to get $500.
Runners up in the full marathon will pocket $750 and a third place finish is a guaranteed $600.
The marathon race route starts in the car park outside the banks/Ilala Lodge entrance, and then crosses over the Victoria Falls Bridge into Zambia through the Zambezi National Park before ending at the Victoria Falls Primary School.