The ManicaPost
Fungayi Munyoro Sports Correspondent
A RECORD 25 athletes from Manicaland will compete at the JM Busha 54 races peace pledge half marathon at Alex Sports Club in Harare tomorrow.
The race which is bank rolled by prominent Zimbabwe businessman Joseph Makamba Busha was first introduced in 2017 as a 42km marathon before it was adjusted to 54km last year. This year the event has shifted to 21km.
The winners in both male and female categories will walk away with RTGS $3 000, the same as last year’s winners.
Manicaland Athletics Board chairperson Joshua Matume expressed confidence in the team that is representing the province.
“We have 25 athletes who are fully prepared for the race. We are happy with our provincial team. We are very confident in them since they have done quite well in terms of preparations.
“We have a lot of talent in our province. Our athletes are well prepared for the event. They have been using the natural terrain found in Manicaland to improve on their endurance. We are expecting fireworks from one of the top athletes in the country Millen Matende. Much is expected of him since he has a lot of experience. We will be banking also on the services of Learnard Katoma,Munashe Sarata, Brenda Matiza and Mirikina Nyangani. They are going to be participating in the 21km race. The other independent athletes will participate in the 10 000m,” said Matume.
Matende who competed in the men’s marathon at the 2017 World Championships in London said he was taking part in the 10km race instead of the 21km race due to an injury.
“I will be targeting top 5, since l will be just checking on my fitness. I picked up an injury in early April and I missed the Bulawayo NASSA road race, CBZ marathon and cross countries. l just participated in J Busha second leg track and field event in Mutare and I did not do much this year. I think l am going to finish the race,” he said.
The competition will be used as part of preparations for the next World Half Marathon Championships pencilled for Gdynia, Poland on March 29, 2020.
