Zim runners find the going tough at IAAF champs
ZIMBABWE’S marathon runners found the going tough yesterday at the IAAF World Championships, failing to make the top 20 although most of them ran their season’s best times in London.
The pair of Pardon Ndhlovu and Millen Matende had their best run for the season in the men’s marathon with Ndhlovu leading the way for Zimbabwe finishing on position 33 in 2 hours 18 minutes 37seconds.
His teammate Matende came through at 47th in 2 hours 21 minutes 52 seconds out of the 71 athletes that completed the race.
Cuthbert Nyasango, who entered the competition as the country’s favourite to leave a mark at the event, taking into account his experience, and some of his previous performances failed to complete yesterday’s race.
For Ndhlovu, this was his second major international meet following his Olympics appearance last year where Hwange . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (1) 2 Chapungu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0 RED-HOT Hwange produced a blistering performance to bring high-flying Chapungu crashing down to mother earth with a thud after an evenly contested Castle Lager Premier League match at the Colliery yesterday.
The airmen came into the match with their tails up after goring fellow servicemen Black Rhinos 3-0 in their last match but Hwange, who trooped into the duel licking their wounds after a 4-1 whacking by leaders Ngezi Platinum, had other ideas as they came with guns blazing from the first whistle.
At the end of the day, a well taken he was number 41 in 2hours 17minutes 48seconds. Although he could not surpass or equal his Olympic Games time, there was an improvement in terms of his position.
Matende was also making his debut appearance at the World Championships and it was always going to be a tough assignment for the Zimbabweans in this race won by Kenya’s Geoffrey Kirui in 2hours 8minutes 27seconds.
Silver medallist Tamirat Tola of Ethiopia clocked 2hours 9minutes 49seconds ahead of third placed Alphonce Felix Simbu of Tanzania with a time of in 2hours 9minutes 51seconds to settle for bronze.
Kirui won the Boston marathon early this year and becomes the first man ever to win the World Championships and the Boston Marathon in the same year.
In the women’s marathon Rutendo Nyahora and Fortunate Chidzivo also found the going tough although they also posted their season’s best times yesterday. Nyahora came through at position 47 in 2hours 42minutes 53seconds while Chidzivo was number 74 in 2hours 58minutes 51seconds.
They were the only two women who made the cut to represent the country in this section.
The title went to Rose Chelimo of Bahrain as she was the first to cross the finish line in 2hours 27minutes 11seconds ahead of Kenya’s Edna Ngeringwony Kiplagat with a time of 2hours 27minutes 18seconds.
United States’ Amy Cragg was third to claim bronze.
Zimbabwe only had marathon runners competing in London after the track and field athletes failed to qualify for the championships running until August 13.
And with both the men and women’s marathons taking place yesterday, it’s time to focus on other upcoming events such as next year’s World Under-20 Championships scheduled for next year.