International marathon runners Isaac Mpofu from Zimbabwe and Zambia’s Elizabeth Mukoloma have been crowned the champions of the 5th edition of the FNB Kazugula Bridge Marathon, winning gold medals in the men and women’s 42.2km category respectively.
The event, held on February 28th in Kazungula attracted runners from across the SADC region, United States of America and Europe, reflecting its growing popularity.
Mpofu produced an impressive performance to win gold in the men’s 42.2 km race with a time of 2 hours, 14 minutes and 18 seconds, beating South Africa’s Siboniso Sikhakhane, who finished second with 2 hours, 19 minutes and 17 seconds, while Namibia’s Jeremia Shaliaxwe settled for third place in 2 hours, 20 minutes and 9 seconds.
Mukoloma delivered an outstanding performance in the women’s 42.2km category, clocking an impressive finishing time of 2 hours, 38 minutes and 9 seconds to secure the top spot in the female category. Kenyan runners Edna Kimitei and Nyaingiri Kemunto finished on position two and position three respectively. Kimitei clocked 2 hours, 47 minutes, and 20 seconds while Kemunto finished with a time of 2 hours, 49 minutes and 12 seconds.
In the elite men’s 21 km race, Zimbabwe’s Tatenda Hove finished on position one clocking a time of 1 hour, 6 minutes and 43 seconds while Kenyans Ezra Keter and Timothy Kosgey finished on position two and three respectively. Keter finished in a time of 55 minutes and 41 seconds while Kosgey clocked 55 minutes and 42 seconds.
Namibian marathon runner Lavinia Haitope produced an impressive performance to win gold in the elite women’s 21km race. Haitope crossed the finish line in a time of 1 hour, 13 minutes and 44 seconds, beating Botswana’s Mosadikwena Gotswakgosi, who finished second in 1 hour, 18 minutes, 6 seconds, while Kenya’s Nancy Chepleting settled for third place in 1 hour, 20 minutes, and 47 seconds.
Zimbabwe’s Martin Matsapa took position one in the men’s 15km race registering a time of 46 minutes and 26 seconds while Batswana runners Karabo Bosele and Kagiso Kebatshwaretse took position two and three respectively. Bosele clocked 46 minutes 37 seconds while Kebatshwaretse finished in 46 miniutes and 42 seconds.
In the 15km women’s category, Botswana’s Ratang Lenyatso emerged the champion clocking a time of 59 minutes and 19 seconds, Moreblessing Masvosve from Zimbabwe took position two registering 1 hours, 00 minutes and 56 seconds while Diteko Ketlhomphilwe from Botswana took position three registering a time of 1 hour, 02 minutes and one second.
Andrew Ndlovu from Zimbabwe won gold medal in the men’s 8 km category with a time of 24 minutes and 46 seconds followed by his counterpart Mthabisi Mthabisi with a time of 25 minutes and 8 seconds while Botswana’s Lebogang Mugagu took position three clocking 25 minutes and 32 seconds.
Batswana runners Bontle Nginya and Yarona Ramoleele dominated the women’s 8km race, scooping gold and silver medals respectively. Nginya registered a time of 29 minutes and 49 seconds while Ramoleele clocked 31 minutes and 33 seconds. Zimbabwe’s Thobekile Ncube won a bronze medal with a time of 31 minutes and 56 seconds.
In an interview, Marathon CEO, Obert Morgan confirmed that everything went according to plan despite financial constraints.
“We did not have many runners from the government and parastatals due to the economic challenges, we had more runners coming from the private sector,” he said.
According to Morgan, around 4 8000 athletes participated in this year’s event which featured 8 km, 15 km, 21.1 km and 42.2km races.
