LONG-STRIDING Elmore Sibanda yesterday finally got it right this time when he won this year’s edition of the 21st February Movement 10km road race for the first time in his career.
The New Zimbabwe Steel athlete had settled for consolation places in the previous edition but took just a little less than half-an-hour to claim the US$600 first prize in the senior men’s section.
The race, held in Highfield as part of the celebrations to mark President Robert Mugabe’s birthday, witnessed most of Zimbabwe’s top road runners taking part.
Sibanda won the event in 29 minutes 39 seconds as he relegated pre-event favourite Cutbert Nyasango into second place.
The race started at President Mugabe’s house with Sibanda and Nyasango in the leading pack, running neck-and-neck until the 8km mark.
Sibanda then burst clear with one-and-half kilometres to go and held on the lead until the finish.
“The race was okay for me and I am happy to beat a classy runner like Nyasango.
“I had never won this race before and the best I did was finishing second to Shoko in 2010 but this time around I got it right.
“Cutbert is really hard to beat and maybe today he was just not strong,” said Sibanda.
Nyasango, who was running as an independent, took second position in 29 minutes 42 seconds as Wirimai Juwawo of Shabanie was third in 29:55.
George Mujaji came fourth with seasoned runner Kelvin Pangiso taking fifth place ahead of Charles Soza.
Cutbert’s sister, Constance, won the senior women’s Open race as he shrugged off her sister-in-law Faith Nyasango into second place.
Faith is married to Cutbert.
Muchaneta Gwata came third as Lizzy Chokore and Samukeliso Moyo occupied the next slots.
Hosea Goredema of Dzivaresekwa was the first junior men home as he romped to victory in this category with Prince Ncube of A Academy and Takunda Chihava of Nemakonde also getting medals.
Unheralded Sarah Machaya also ran a good race as she dominated the junior women’s race ahead of Loveness Saunyama and Ronica Tamwa.
There was no one to stop veteran wheelchair runner Edmund Makutya from winning in his section but there was a surprise for second place when Samson Muroyiwa dislodged Elford Makutya.
In most of the previous competitions, Moyo has won with Makutya coming second but this time around Muroyiwa also made a loud shout.
While veteran Samukeliso Moyo might have finished fifth in the overall women’s race but she was the winner in the veterans section.
Moyo grabbed the category prize ahead of Tamary Chipoterete and Esther Kanonga for athletes above 40 years.
Amos Chedondo was the winner for the veterans men with Yangu Chikundisa and Honest Mutsakani also getting prizes.
Tsatsa, who finished sixth in the women’s Open section, also got a consolation prize when she was first in the mistresses division with Rudo Makumbe and Esnath Dzuda settling for second and third places respectively.
There was also a consolation prize for Nicholas Nyengerai in the men’s masters section as he staved off Patrick Chipoyi and Cuthbert Utete

21st February 10km road race results
Senior men: 1. Elmore Sibanda, 2. Cutbert Nyasango, 3. Wirimai Juwawo
Senior women: 1. Constance Nyasango, 2. Faith Nyasango, 3. Muchaneta Gwata
Junior men: 1. Hosea Goredema, 2. Prince Ncube, 3. Takunda Chihava
Junior women: 1. Sarah Machaya, 2. Loveness Saunyama, 3. Ronica Tamwa
Wheelchair men: 1. Elford Moyo, 2. Samson Muroyiwa, 3. Edmund Makutya
Wheelchair women: 1. Mollen Majoni, 2. Maggie “Mukaranga” Bangajena, 3. Magadelene Madziwa
Grandmasters: 1. Augustine Tsaka, 2. Kelly Mavandira, 3. Denson Bonongwe
Grand mistress: 1. Eva Chikazaza, 2. Tendai Chapungu, 3. Grace Simango
War veterans men: 1. Caston Magurei, 2. Jacob Masunyembeva, 3. Ereck Mukandadzviti
War veterans women: 1. Anna Nyamandwe, 2. Eva Chikazaza, 3. Pamhidzai Chavhunduka
Veterans women: 1. Samukeliso Moyo, 2. Tamary Chipoterete, 3. Esther Kanunga
Veterans men: 1. Amos Chedondo, 2. Yangu Chikundisa, 3. Honest Mutsakani
Mistress: 1. Tabitha Tsatsa, 2. Rudo Makombe, 3. Esnath Dzuda
Masters: 1. Nicholas Nyengerai, 2. Patrick Chipoyi, 3.Cuthbert Utete
Primary school boys 5km: 1. Grant Chingwerese, 2. Simba Gauti, 3. Stanley Galeta
Primary school girls: 1. Viola Kashesha, 2. Brenda Falachi, 3. Vanessa Gwaravandu
Secondary school boys 10km: 1. Tondeai Dhetizoi, 2. Forget Manyange, 3. Brighton Chipunza
Secondary school girls: 1. Tinotenda Madhirawo, 2. Rutendo Kanda, 3. Melody Bepet