Ray Bande
Senior Reporter
THE Vumba Half Marathon is upon us, and Sunday will see more than 1 500 long distance runners from different clubs across the country taking to the undulating terrain of Mutare as they compete in the 11th edition of the prestigious mountain run.
Manicaland Athletics Board (MAB) chairman, Joshua ‘Zesa’ Matume confirmed that a field of more than 1 500 athletes will take part in this year’s marathon edition.
“Preparations for the Old Mutual Vumba Half Marathon have been going on well as online registration for athletes started on October 4. We are expecting more than 1 200 athletes at the event that will be held on Sunday at Leopard Rock in Vumba,” said Matume.
Apart from the 21km main event, there will also be 10km and 5km races.
Athletes will start the race at White Horse Inn, while the finishing line will be at Leopard Rock Hotel – all in the picturesque Vumba Resort Area on the outskirts of Mutare.
Most of the big names in the domestic long distance running fraternity have previously taken part in this competition, with Cancious Nyamutsita winning it a record three consecutive times.
Last year, Blessing Waison came first in the 21km main race, while Jonathan Chinyoka settled for second position.
Wirimayi Zhuwawo was the main winner in the 2012 edition, and set a record of one hour, five minutes and 15 seconds, that is yet to be broken.
The following year, Lyno Muchena, won the race after crossing the finishing line in one hour, six minutes and 33 seconds, while Elijah Mabhunu came close to matching or eclipsing Zhuwawo’s record when he snatched the pole position in 2014, finishing the race in one hour, five minutes and 19 seconds.
In 2015, Millen Mathende was the 21km race winner after completing the race in one hour, 16 minutes and 56 seconds.
2016 saw Nyamutsita winning the main event after crossing the finishing line in one hour, 11 minutes and 30 seconds.
Nyamutsita went on successfully defend the title the following year after completing the race in one hour, 13 minutes and 53 seconds.
In 2018, Nyamutsita made it three in a row when he crossed the finishing line in one hour, 10 minutes and 48 seconds.
The following year, the last before the Covid-19 pandemic induced lockdown, was won by Elijah Mabhunu after crossing the finishing line in one hour, 11 minutes and 30 seconds.
After the pandemic in 2022, Moses Tarakinyu dominated the race and crossed the finishing line in one hour, nine minutes and 34 seconds.
Last year, it was Blessing Waison who scooped top position after completing the race in one hour, 13 minutes and seven seconds.
In the ladies’ category, from the record available, Patience Garauziva won the 2017 edition of the main race after finishing the competition in one hour, 31 minutes and 54 seconds, while Rudo Mhonderwa was the ladies’ category main event winner the following year after completing the race in one hour, 23 minutes and 20 seconds.
In 2019, Rudo Mhonderwa was back to successfully defend her title after completing the race in one hour, 27 minutes and 40 seconds.
In the post Covid-19 era (2022), Fortunate Chidzivo was the main winner for the ladies 21km race after completing the race in one hour, 24 minutes and 26 seconds.
Last year, Ethel Pangiso dominated the ladies’ category, completing the race in one hour, 29 minutes and 34 seconds.
