Varevi, Pangiso win HAB cross country
WELLINGTON Varevi and Ethel Pangiso won the senior men’s and women’s categories in the Harare Athletic Board season opener cross country at Allan Wilson School yesterday.
Varevi from Black Rhinos clocked 22 minutes 17 seconds in the 8km race, while Ethel Pangiso from ZRP took the women’s race in 27 minutes 23 seconds.
The men’s section attracted several top athletes who used the event as part of their build-up to their targeted major competitions for the season.
It was a close contest in the senior men with Varevi, Jonathan Chinyoka, Wayne Kabondo, Moses Tarakinyu and Kelvin Pangiso among the leading pack from the onset.
They pushed each other throughout the four laps of the 8km race with Varevi breaking from the rest of the pack towards the end of the last lap to win the race.
“I can say, I am grateful for this season opener. Most of us are not yet at the peak, we are still in the preparation phase. But it’s good that we got this competition so that we have somewhere to start before we go for the provincial selection events.
“The competition was a bit tough, but it was good,” said Varevi.
HAB are scheduled to host their cross country selection event next month to pick a team for the national competition and yesterday’s season opener provided the athletes with a platform to measure their preparedness.
Wayne Kabondo finished second in the men’s race in a time of 22 minutes 18 seconds followed by Tarakinyu in third place in 22minutes 30 seconds.
Kabondo from Mr Pace Athletics Club was happy with the outcome.
“This is my first race of the year. I was trying to push myself and see what is needed in my training programmes. So, I think I am not that bad, I am close. I am going back to work very hard so that I can push and run fast times,” said Kabondo.
Ethel Pangiso said the event was helpful for her preparations for next month’s Old Mutual Harare Marathon.
“I am so happy that I won this race. I didn’t know that I will win this race…it shows that I am still fit.
“There are several races I am looking forward to, like the Old Mutual Harare Marathon on the 11th of February, which is what I am targeting right now. I have gained something from this cross country, and now I am going for long runs and speed work as we continue with preparations,” said Ethel.
Melody Chikonzi was second to Ethel in 29 minutes 53 seconds with Thobekile Ncube coming third in 31 minutes 53 seconds.
“Today I had a good race because I couldn’t complete the previous cross country events I competed in, but today I managed to finish. So, I am happy that I have improved,” said Chikonzi.
The event featured participants from as young as Under-10 to seniors.
The 6km junior (Under-20) men title went to Blessed Sipanela in a time of 17 minutes 47.02 seconds. There were no participants in the girls’ category.
The youth (Under-18) girls 4km race was won by Yvette Dandiro in 15 minutes 51.59 seconds. The youth boys competed in 6km and Elson Nyamai was the first to cross the finish line in 18 minutes 50.07 seconds.
In the cadets 4km (Under-16), Blessing Tikiti won the boys section in 13 minutes 55.72 seconds, while Charlize Chitsiwah emerged tops in the girls’ section in 21 minutes 02.00 seconds.