VETERAN Zimbabwean long distance runner Samukeliso Moyo came second in the Nedbank Soweto Marathon in South Africa on Sunday morning as she once again failed to beat her rival Mamaorolla Tjoka of Lesotho.

Moyo finished in 2 hours, 49 minutes and 50 seconds as the Sotho runner claimed her third consecutive Nedbank Soweto Marathon win after stopping the clock in 2.47.57 while Russia's Olesya Nurgalieva came third in the women's open race.

By taking part in the Soweto Marathon, the seasoned Moyo was burning herself for the third time in as many months after posting wins in the IQ Ultra-Marathon and the Nedbank Cape Town Marathon recently.

Tjoka, Moyo and Nurgalieva were the only foreigners among the top 10 finishers with the rest of the slots being taken by South African women.

Another Zimbabwean, Tabitha Tsatsa, raised the country's flag high in the women's 10km race when she won in 34min 52sec.

Tsatsa relegated South Africa's Viola Raseboya into second place on 35:10 while her compatriot Olivia Chitate came third in 35:33min.

The Zimbabwean flag was also flying high in the junior women's 10km event where Rutendo Nyahora came first in 35:10 ahead of Cornerlia Joubert of South Africa who clocked 36:26min. Varaidzo Shindi was the second Zimbabwean on the podium after coming third in 36:56min.

However, none of Zimbabwe's top men's runners could secure a top 10 finish. Teboho Sello of Lesotho won the men's marathon in 2 hours 18 minutes 51 seconds.

But there was a Zimbabwean presence in the senior men's 10km where Wiramai Juwawo came third in 30:01 after trailing Boy Soke of South Africa, who won in 29:12.

Up-and-coming Jonathan Chinyoka of Luxoc Athletics Club in Harare came fifth in 31: 35min in the junior men's 10km race.

Zimbabweans also ruled in the men's 10km wheelchair race with Edmund Makutya coming first in 29 minutes 03 seconds ahead of compatriot Elford Moyo in 30 minutes 07 seconds with Vusa Masilela of South Africa third.