Moses Tarakinyu and Fortunate Chidzivo, two of Zimbabwe’s most accomplished athletes, claimed victory at the fourth annual Post Insurance Mr Pace half marathon, held yesterday at Alex Sports Club in Harare on Saturday.
The event drew approximately 500 participants across various categories, including 10km, 5km, and wheelchair races, showcasing its growing popularity.
Significant Support from Sponsors
The marathon received a substantial financial injection of US$20,000 from key sponsors: NicozDiamond, Global Risk Underwriting Managers (Gruma), and Zimpost’s Post Insurance brand.
This significant contribution underscores the commitment of these organizations to promoting sports and community wellness.
Tarakinyu Dominates Men’s RaceIn the men’s 21km race, veteran half marathoner Moses Tarakinyu secured the top spot with an impressive time of 59 minutes and 36 seconds.
He outpaced last year’s champion, Wayne Kabondo, who finished second. Golden Mhonderwa of Bowera Sporting Club and Owen Slowly from ZRP claimed fourth and fifth positions, respectively.
Tarakinyu expressed his satisfaction with the win, especially given the strong competition.
“I am happy to have won this race, it was a really competitive race but I was well prepared. Winning is particularly pleasing because I was up against some really strong athletes such as the defending champion (Wayne Kabondo),” he stated.
He also extended his gratitude to the sponsors: “I am particularly grateful to the sponsors Zimpost, NicozDiamond and Gruma for their continued support for this event and we hope they keep going at it and also encourage their fellow corporates to come forward and also support us as athletes because this is how we earn our living.”
Chidzivo Defends Women’s Title
Fortunate Chidzivo successfully defended her title in the women’s 21km race, completing the course in 1 hour and 10 minutes.
Caroline Mhandu secured second place, followed by Mirriam Sibanda in third. Ethel Pangiso and Shylette Dzivengwa took fourth and fifth positions, respectively.
Chidzivo shared her relief and joy at retaining her title: “I wasn’t sure that my legs would have fully recovered after I ran a marathon in May but I thank God that I could run in this race. Obviously the target was to defend my title and take it back to Seke Chitungwiza so I am very happy.”
Event Growth and Community Impact
Muvengwa Marumahoko, Gruma managing director, expressed his delight at the event’s expansion.
“It’s our fourth year and we have exceeded the numbers that we were targeting as we hit 500 participants. We are also thrilled with just how competitive the races turned out to be as we had top elite athletes giving it all for the top prize,” he said.
He also highlighted the positive community impact: “But we are also particularly happy to see a growing number of social runners coming in as we strive to promote general wellness and fitness. And we believe that these events are critical as they allow us to encourage more youngsters to take up sport and steer away from bad habits while also earning a living.”
David Nyabadza, NicozDiamond managing director, commended the impressive turnout and emphasized the importance of youth involvement.
“We are very happy about the turnout as we have got much more people than we had last year. This is a very important event for us especially at a time when we have got youths who are idle and hooked on all sorts of substances. So our belief is that we can lead in providing a platform for them to use their time more productively and also to nurture the talent that is there,” he noted.
Maxwell Chitendeni, Zimpost’s Postmaster General, underscored the marathon’s role in community engagement.
“We are here to celebrate a spirit of healthy lifestyle, but most importantly, to give back to the community in which we operate. This year’s theme talks about promoting physical mental health, wellness and socialisation’ and this resonates deeply with all of us,” he stated.
The inclusion of Kenyan athlete Isaac Langat, who secured third place in the elite men’s 21km race, also added an international dimension to this year’s competition.
