The ManicaPost
THE 2014 edition of the exhilarating Tanganda Tea Half Marathon gets underway on Sunday with at least 500 athletes, among them big names on the domestic scene, expected to take part. Tanganda Tea Half Marathon 2012 edition winner Wirimayi Juwawo, last year’s Vumba Half Marathon champion Collin Kanyimo, Zimbabwe Prisons Services duo of Jonathan Chinyoka and Point Chaza as well as Zimbabwe National Army’s Millen Matende are expected to rub shoulders with competitors that also include locals such as the seasoned long-distance runner Charles Soza.
In fact, Juwawo, the Shabanie Mine athlete, outpaced competitors in 2012 as he smashed the then Tanganda Tea Half Marathon record of one hour four minutes when he romped home in one hour, two minutes and 43 seconds.
However, Juwawo failed to beat the record he set as he performed dismally the following year (last year) when he went on to settle for lowly seventh position. Manicaland Athletics Board (MAB) chairperson Joshua “Zesa” Matume confirmed that all is set for the annual event.
Matume said the inclusion of tertiary institutions and secondary schools categories is expected to increase the number of competitors in this year’s contest.
“Everything is now in place for the Tanganda Tea Half Marathon and we are actually expecting more than 500 participants. The inclusion of tertiary institutions and secondary schools categories is expected to increase the number of competitors in this year’s contest.
“We are also happy that the race was effectively marketed hence expectation of a big turnout. It is also good that we have a number of well-known long-distance runners who have confirmed that they will be coming to take part in the race,” said the MAB chairperson.
The half marathon main event will start at 6.30am at the Tanganda Tea company premises in the Nyakamete industrial area in Mutare while the 10km race begins about half an hour thereafter.
The winning point will be at Mutare Sports Club where winners are expected to receive their prizes.
The once prestigious long-distance competition — the Tanganda Tea Half Marathon — which used to attract yesteryear top athletes on the local scene such as Abel Chimukoko and Elijah Mutandiro, returned on the local radar in 2012 after taking a sabbatical since 2004. Last year, Chinyoka won the 21km men’s main event when he crossed the line in one hour six minutes, 51 seconds, while Harare’s 21km ladies race was won by Rutendo Nyahora of Harare after she romped home in one hour 18 minutes, 70 seconds.
Edwin Chimombo weighed in on second position in the 21km men’s main event behind Chinyoka, while Olivia Chitate came second in the ladies category.
