The ManicaPost
Ray Bande Senior Reporter
THE Old Mutual-bankrolled Vumba Half Marathon is set to become the first long distance running competition in the country to have an air ambulance, Post Sport has learnt.
While some of the prestigious long distance running competitions around the country have been employing aircraft in monitoring routes and athletes, the annual Old Mutual Vumba 21km half marathon will go a step further in having a helicopter that will carry medics that will instantly attend to athletes in cases of injuries.
Manicaland Athletics Board chairperson, Joshua Matume, confirmed the development.
“We are going to have an air ambulance, becoming the first long distance running competition in the country to have such. Some of the long distance running competitions around the country have been employing aircraft in monitoring routes and athletes, the Old Mutual Vumba 21km half marathon will go a step further in having a helicopter that will carry medics that will instantly attend to athletes in cases of injuries,” he said.
Matume said all is set for the potentially exciting event.
“We are in the final stages of the process of registering athletes. We are looking forward to a better and bigger event this year.
All is set for the event. So far we have slightly above 1000 athletes registered. We are expecting about 1200 athletes to compete for top honours.
“I also expect to have a new record for the event. The standing record is 1hour 10 minutes. We are ready to host the 21km Vumba Half-Marathon, we have done all the necessary preparations for the race, athletes from all over the country are going to fight for the top honours” he said.
Last year, a record of 1000 athletes from all over the country competed in the marathon.
In the ladies category, Rudo Mhondirwa came out first followed by Caroline Mhandu while Bertha Chikanga came out third.
In the men’s category, Caniscious Nyamutsita won the race. Tatenda Hove came out second while Munyaradzi Jari came third.
The Old Mutual Vumba Half Marathon is an annual long distance running competition held in the undulating terrain of the Eastern Highlands. It is sponsored by one of leading insurance companies, Old Mutual.
This year’s winners in the main category 21km races will walk away with ZWL$8 000 cash prize. The second prize will be ZWL$6000 and third prize will be ZWL$4000.
All top five athletes will receive food hampers.
The Vumba marathon has always attracted top drawer athletes in the country as it is one of the best races in the country.
