Ray Bande
Senior Reporter
LONG-DISTANCE runners who represented Manicaland at the 2025 National Athletics Association of Zimbabwe Cross-Country race, held at Allan Wilson High School in Harare last Saturday, delivered impressive performances, securing several medals.
A total of 10 athletes from Manicaland, predominantly juniors, competed in the cross-country event, as many senior athletes were participating in the Kazungula Half Marathon, which took place during the same weekend.
In the Under-16, 2km men’s category, Elton Zata secured a gold medal with a time of seven minutes, five seconds, and 31 split second.
He outpaced Harare’s Leo Muzhuzhe, who finished in seven minutes, 19 seconds, and 16 split second.
In the men’s Under-18, 6km category, Manicaland’s Denzel Gumura claimed a silver medal, completing the race in 20 minutes, 12 seconds, and eight split second.
He finished behind Harare’s Tinashe Mbokochena, who won with a time of 19 minutes, 11 seconds, and eight split second, and Tafadzwa Mukandatsambo, who took second place in 20 minutes, two seconds, and eight split second.
In the same competition, Manicaland’s Upenyu Kwinakwina finished fourth, completing the race in 11 minutes, one second, and seven split second.
Manicaland’s Initial Maukuva secured the silver medal in the Under-16 women’s race, finishing in eight minutes, 23 seconds, and nine split second.
She trailed behind the Mashonaland Central duo of Felistas Chiyedza and Praise Chipokosa, who completed the race in eight minutes, 15 seconds, and 35 split second, and seven minutes, seven seconds, and 10 split second, respectively.
Manicaland Athletics Board chairman, Joshua ‘Zesa’ Matume expressed satisfaction with the performance of the athletes representing the province.
“Generally, I am delighted with the performance of the athletes who represented the province, particularly since most of them were being trained by newly qualified coaches. This is a testament to our developmental programmes, which have enabled coaches from all the seven districts of the province to become actively involved in athletics. We are hopeful that our athletes will perform even better in upcoming competitions,” said Matume, a lecturer at Marymount Teachers’ College, adding that his association is now shifting its focus towards primary and secondary schools’ athletics competitions.
“At present, we do not have any MAB-organised events. Instead, we are concentrating on supporting NAPH/NASH-organised track and field competitions, which are taking place in all districts at various levels,” said Matume.
In this year’s NAAZ cross-country competition, Harare, Mashonaland Central and Midlands dominated most of the races.
