The ManicaPost
Ray Bande Senior Sports Reporter —
THE 2016 edition of the exciting Old Mutual Vumba Half Marathon has come and gone, but the 2015 champion, Millen Matende, who failed to defend his title as he settled for second position, admits that the eventual winner was stronger than him.
In the men’s category unheralded Harare long distance runner, Conisious Nyamutsita defied all odds when he romped home in one hour, 14 minutes, 53 seconds to win this year’s edition of the Old Mutual Vumba Half Marathon last Saturday morning.
Nyamutsita was first to cross the finishing line ahead of defending champion Millen Matende who came second after completing the race in one hour 15 minutes, 40 seconds.
Interestingly, Nyamutsita caused confusion in last year’s 21km men’s race after the Harare-based runner hit the ribbon first in 57 minutes.
For a moment there was shock as his time was faster than the official International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) world half marathon record of 58 minutes 23 seconds set by Zersenay Tadese of Eritrea on March 21, 2010 in Lisbon, Portugal.
But it was later realised that he had cut about four kilometres of the race because of lack of officials who gave directions to athletes and lack of clear markings.
But this time around Nyamutsita made amends and won the race without any doubt.
“I think he had done his homework well. The guy was stronger than me.
“I tried my best to push harder, but I failed in the last quarter of the hill.
“I will work hard to do much better next time.
“I really wanted to win it, but somehow that is the nature of the competition.
“You win some, you lose some,” said Matende.
Munyaradzi Jari came third, 10 seconds behind Matende. In this year’s edition of the Old Mutual Vumba Half Marathon, Matende could not break the one hour, 15 minutes winning time that he achieved last year.
He also could not break his 21km personal best set at the Phalabhorwa race of 1 hour, 5 minutes in South Africa in 2009. The 34-year-old Black Rhinos athlete registered his first Vumba Half Marathon win last year, a befitting achievement for an athlete who also won the Victoria Falls Econet 42,2km marathon this year.
The Victoria Falls Econet Marathon was held in July where Matende finished the race in 2 hours, 19 mins, 3 seconds.
Meanwhile, Olympian, Rutendo Nyahora retained her Vumba Half Marathon title after crossing the finishing line in one hour, 29 minutes, 13 seconds. Veteran long distance runner, Constance Nyasango came second after completing the race in one hour 30 minutes, 54 seconds.
The Old Mutual Vumba Half Marathon is an annual long distance running competition held in the undulating terrain of the Eastern Highlands. It is sponsored by insurance company Old Mutual.
