The Zimbabwean was one of the 11 marathon runners out of the 118 contestants who dropped out of the competition before the real contest had really started becoming the third Zimbabwean to crash out of the Olympics.
Swimmer Kirsty Coventry and rower Micheene Thorncroft are the other of the Zimbabwean representatives coming back home empty handed.
In a race that appeared to be an African affair with five of the pace setters Tiki Geland and Mare Dibaba of Ethiopia, Priscah Jeptoo, Mary Keitany and Edna Kiplagat of Kenya, from the continent, Tawengwa along with South Africa’s Irvette van Blerk were the only drop outs from Africa.
Surprisingly, Tawengwa appeared to be doing well when at the 15 kilometre mark she was lying 46th overall before the pace of the competition began to take its toll on the young athlete.
The race was won Ethiopia’s Tiki Gelana in a new Olympic record of 2 hours, 23 minutes and seven seconds followed by Kenya’s Priscah Jeptoo on 2 hours, 23 minutes and 12 seconds with Russia’s Tatyana Petrova in third place after clocking 2 hours 23 minutes and 29 seconds.
Cuthbert Nyasango and Wirimayi Zhuwao will take part in the men’s marathon to be held on Sunday the same day triathlete Chris Felgate also takes to the field.
Post published in: Athletics