Ngqabutho Moyo Sports Reporter
HQ One Brigade athlete Leonard Koki won the Bulawayo Athletics Board season opening cross-country race at Nketa Park in Mpopoma yesterday.Koki won the race in 41 minutes 43.34 seconds.
It was a poorly attended event with several of the city’s favourites Isaac Mpofu, Ngonidzashe Ncube, Trust Chidomaya, Charles Chivanga, John Payarira and Trust Madoro not available. All are members of the Support Unit based at Fairbridge and were in Harare attending a sports award night held on Saturday.
Koki was happy to have won the race. He said it was part of his preparations for the Comrades Marathon.
“I’m happy to have won the event, I’m using local competitions like this one as part of my preparations for the Comrades Marathon, I want to finish in the top 10 and to achieve that I’ve to work very hard,” said Koki.
BAB chairman Manuel Mpofu said the event was poorly attended because the schools were not yet ready for athletics.
“Most of the schools communicated to us on Friday, apologising that they recently opened and didn’t get the chance to prepare athletes for the cross-country,” said Mpofu.
Mpofu said the athletes who were not present in yesterday’s race will get another chance to qualify for the national cross-country championships set for Kadoma on February 14.
“Since most of the athletes were not ready for this event we’ll use our next event that will be held at Luveve High School to select the team that will represent the province at the inter-provincial competitions in Kadoma in February,” said Mpofu.
Results
Women
Under-16 (4km): 1 Patience Gurure 16 minutes 37.54, 2 Yvonne Mutare 17 minutes 26.84 seconds, 3 Memory Sibanda 20 minutes 03.64 seconds
Under-20 (6km): 1 Sandra Toderera 26 minutes 02.12 seconds, 2 Cynthia Toderera 26 minutes 18.68 seconds, 3 Gugulethu Maphosa 32 minutes 04.71 seconds.
Men
Under-16 (6km): 1 Proud Ncube 21 minutes 58.52 seconds, 2 Takudzwa Chigwide 23 min utes 30.53 seconds, 3 Obey Makamo 25 minutes 45.67 seconds.
Under-20 (8km): 1 Blessed Ruguchu 27 minutes 51.76 seconds, 2 Bismark Ndlovu 28 minutes 55.73 seconds, 3 Hlalani Ngwenya 29 minutes 15.69 seconds
Seniors (12km): 1 Leornard Koki 41 minutes 43.34 seconds, 2 Bright Siwela 42 minutes 36.01, 3 Thando Maphosa 43 minutes 14.16 seconds.