Published by the government of Zimbabwe
Thupeyo Muleya
9 September 2008
Beitbridge — LONG distance runner Nkosiyazi Sibanda successfully defended his title when he won the 12th edition of the Two Countries Marathon in Beitbridge at the weekend.
The annual race is jointly hosted by Zimbabwe's Beitbridge Town and South Africa's Musina Town. Sibanda of Blanket Mine Athletics Club raised the Zimbabwe flag high when he won the 42.2km event in 2hrs 28 minutes 55 seconds.
For winning the race Sibanda won the golden medal at stake and also pocketed the R3 600 that went with it.
The race started at Nottingham Estate turn off, some 10km outside Beitbridge along the Beitbridge-Bulawayo road and finished at Eric Louw High school in Mussina South Africa. South Africa's Sipho Motau came second in 2hrs 50mins 21s while his fellow countrymen Thifhelimbilu Ngobe came third 15 minutes.
The South African duo won R1 600 and R600 for their efforts while the trio of Millen Matende, Rabson Chigara and Tsungai Mwenengeni of Black Rhinos Athletics Club dominated the men's half marathon, as they came first second and third.
The half marathon and 10,5km walking races started and ended at Eric Louw High school.
The lanky Matende romped home in 1 hr 8mins 23 seconds, while seasoned long distance runners Chigara and Mwenengeni finished at 1 hr 8 mins 30 seconds and 1 hr 9 mins 33 seconds respectively.
Zimbabwean athletes also made their presence felt in the women's half marathon where the trio of Varaidzo Shindi, Olivia Chitate and Cynthia Mavhunga took all the top prizes at stake.
Shindi stopped the clock at 1 hr 24mins 47s, Chitate registered 1hr 31mins 28s and 1hr 35mins 52s.
Last year, the race was won by seasoned female long distance runner Machaneta Gwata but she could not participate this time around having opted to take part in another race in Johannesburg on Sunday.
South African athletes dominated the 10.5km walking race and the women's main race with Jane Mdau, Gladys Rukwareni and Betty Mundalamo grabbing all the medals at hand.
The Two-Country Marathon was started in 1996 as part of the twinning agreement between Beitbridge and Musina municipalities.
Limpopo radio station Phalaphala fm has been a traditional sponsor to the race since its inception along with Soutpanseberg athletics club. This year's event however, attracted less than 200 athletes with "lower prize money" being cited as one of the factors that contributed to the lower numbers.
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