This Content Is Only For Subscribers
Long-distance runner, Ithuteng Mayaro who hails from Ngarange plans to host a marathon dubbed ‘Okavango Cross-River Marathon’ in Shakawe during the second week of January 2024.
With the help of his friends, the 38-year-old has already registered the marathon, and plans are to launch it before the end of this year in Shakawe before the commencement of registration in January 2024.
The athlete told Times Sport that plans are in place to source funds for the marathon, “we have already engaged in negotiations with potential sponsors to support this marathon and our hope is that we will soon unveil them to the public.”
Mayaro added that he will also engage with the district leadership including council leadership and DiKgosi as well as the public at large.
The athlete who has been running for almost 4 years now, sharing stage with some of the greatest international runners believes he has gained enough experience for him to introduce the distance marathon in his native home, Okavango.
According to Mayaro, there are long-distance runners in Okavango who are known for their endurance, determination, and speed therefore he is confident that they will produce more quality runners for the country and the region.
The Ngarange native recently scooped first position in the Run Maun Marathon’s 21 km category with a time of 1:28:13, pocketing P 6000 prize money. He was followed by the Kenya’s Carl Grulke with the time of 1:37:48 while the Kgosi Tsietso of Chobe Magic came third with the time of 1:54:03.
The Run Maun Marathon was dominated by Kenya athletes, who scooped 2 gold medals, 3 silver, and 3 bronze medals in total. In the 21km-women, they dominated the race finishing first, second and third.
Botswana managed gold medals through Mayaro of Orapa Cub in the 21km (Men), Kabelo Jenamo of Gorilla Sports in Francistown in the 42 km with a time of 2:26:24, and Mogomotsi Segwati in the 10km (Man) with a time of 34:21.
