JOHANNESBURG More than 50 Zimbabwean runners have registered for the 2011 edition of South Africas popular Old Mutual Two Oceans Marathon race since registration began less than a month ago, The Zimbabwean On Sunday was told last week. The Two Oceans Marathon is a 56-kilometre race held annually in South Africas coastal city of Cape Town and attracts a strong field of top athletes from across the world, with participants choosing from various distances in the event the scenic 56 km ultra marathon, the equally popular 21km half marathon or the 5 km or 2.5km fun runs.
The events marketing manager, Stephanie Schultzen, last week told The Zimbabwean On Sunday that 56 Zimbabwean runners had so far registered for the race, which is slated for April 23 2011 and carries rich rewards, after the prize money was increased by 47 per cent.
However, the usual suspects, Stephen Muzhingi, Mike Fokoroni, three-time champion Marko Mambo, Samukeliso Moyo and Sharon Tavengwa are yet to register for the event, whose registration began on November 1 this year.
Among the males who have registered so far are Peter Stenslunde, who has won a medal in each of the 56km and 21 kilometre events, Greg Blignaut with four 56km medals, Rodger Brown, who has scooped five medals in the 21km race and Dean Coles, who has won four in the same event.
In the female category, Sithabile Kachisa will be seeking to add another medal to the two that she already has in the 21km half marathon, as sop will Chipo Masawi and Nectar Rusinga, while each of Paula Berry and Rutendo Nyahora has one medal, also from the half marathon.
Only three Zimbabwean runners Mutsakani (2001), Munjodzi (2006) and Mambo (2004, 2005 and 2008) have won the 56 km event, while no Zimbabwean woman has ever won the 56 km event.
Mambo participated again this year, but ended outside the top 10, in a male event whose top three prizes were dominated by Lesotho runners.
There were however, four male Zimbabwean runners in the top 10 Stephen Muzhingi (4), Mike Fokoroni (6), Moses Njodzi (7) and Nkosiyazi Sibanda (8) in the mens top 10 race, while Samukeliso Moyo, who came out fifth, was the only Zimbabwean female in the top 10.
Next years prize money will be increased by 47 per cent, with the winner of the male and female events taking home R125 000 and R65 000 respectively.
The second and third place male and female runners will each receive R125 000 and R65 000 respectively, with the total prize money on offer for the event being just under R1.5 million. In last years event, first prize winners received R150 000, second place R75 000 and third R50 000.
Post published in: Athletics