Pangiso took over the title from Wirimai Juwayo last year on the same day Constance Nyasango dethroned South Africa based Rutendo Nyahora.
One of the organizers of the competition Sebastien Garikai confirmed Pangiso will be there hoping for a second consecutive title. “We have received confirmation from Pangiso that he will be available for the event. So far, we have received interest from all over the country and this is going to be better and more competitive that the previous years,” said Garikai.
Garikai also took the time to reveal that Constance Nyasango will also be there to try and retain her title while Nyahora has also made indications that she will be there in the contest. Nyahora who is based in South Africa could not be reached to shed light on her participation.
The Old Mutual Half marathon is the richest event on the athletics calendar with rich pickings of around $25,000. The overall winners are guaranteed of $3,000, though there are other prizes for various categories.
Due to its high prizes, the competition has in the past drawn over 1,000 participants including Zimbabwe’s 2012 Olympic Games representatives Wirimayi Juwao and Cuthbert Nyasango.
The two have been shortlisted for the 2016 Games to be held in Rio de Janeiro and will have to justify that by beating the rest of the crop in the Westgate Half marathon to prove that they are the country’s top marathon runners.
Apart from the huge prizes on offer, the Westgate Half marathon also has a huge spectator value as the route passes through a residential area where residents stand on their verandas or outside their houses to see the athletes go past towards the winning point.
Post published in: Athletics