26 Feb 2023

- Zimbabwean, Givemore Mudzinganyama and Kenyan Sheilah Jepkorir went home P50 000 richer for winning the FNB Kazungula Bridge Marathon’s 42.2km senior men and women respectively.

On Saturday, Mudzinganyama registered his personal best of 2:17:10 while Jepkorir finished at 2:52:24 in an epic race that navigated over the majestic Kazungula Bridge traversing through Kazungula and Kasane.

Two Namibians; Hilifa Rainhold (2:17:15) and Jesaya Matheus (2:22:32) were first and second runner ups for the senior men. Rainhold bagged P22 000 while Matheus won P18 000.

Kenya’s Gladys Koech and Boikhutso Bakha of Botswana finished in position two and three after registering 2:56:51 and 2:59:24 respectively in the senior women category. The two pocketed same amount as their male counterparts.

Botswana female runners could not let the visitors run the show in 21kms race as they dominated the race with Kitsiso Joseph leading the pack seconded by Kefilwe Galeitsewe and Mema Tiango in second and third positions. Joseph pocketed P10 000, while Galeitsiwe and Tiango settled for P7 000 and P5 000 respectively.

Namibia’s Daniel Nghidinwa was crowned 21km champion while Zimbabwean Ebel Chibanda and Botswana’s Sesebo Matlapeng scooped position two and three respectively in the race’s senior men category.

Botswana trio; Kelebogile Bile, Lesedi Tumelo and Tlotlo Ntwayagae went on to show that they meant business as they finished in position one, two and three respectively in the 10km senior women. Bile got P8 000, while Tumelo pocketed P6 000 and Ntwayagae settled for P3 000.

Botswana men also dominated the 10km senior men with Othusitse Gabolwelwe leading the pack, seconded by Jeremia Shaliaxwe and Montshiwa Raokgwathile in third place. 

In a post-race interview, 42.2km champ Mudzinganyama expressed excitement for winning the longest race of the day and registering a personal best.

He said the Kazungula Bridge Marathon, being his first race of 2023, was a perfect way to prepare for the upcoming races.

Mudzinganyama thanked Botswana for according other countries an opportunity to compete, adding their stay was hospitable.

The Minister of Youth, Gender, Sport and Culture, Tumiso Rakgare, commended Batswana for embracing the event by participating in large numbers, adding that there was need for Botswana to compete in longer races as most homegrown marathoners had retired.

He said the marathon was in alignment with the government endeavors to promote healthy living.

Moreover, he said sport promoted tourism as affirmed by the over 10 000 people who had booked hotels and lodges in Kasane for the marathon.

“The multitudes of people are in Kasane for the marathon and they injected cash into businesses here and I believe the economy of Chobe has been catapulted this weekend.”

Rakgare highlighted that hosting international events had many benefits.

However the minister stated that there was more to be done to capture and incorporate the culture aspect of the Chobe District in the marathon event in order to appreciate the diverse cultures while reveling in sport.

For his part, the area MP, Machana Shamukuni, reiterated that the marathon had stimulated the economy in Kasane as hotels and lodges were fully booked.

He highlighted that there was lack of local beneficiation in this event as Kasane businesses, besides tourism and hospitality, did not participate meaningfully in it.

The FNB Kazungula Bridge Marathon CEO, Obert Morgan, said the marathon, which was in its second edition, had grown tremendously, adding they were expecting bigger international partaking in the coming years.

Morgan stated that over 4 000 participants registered for the marathon.  ENDS

 ENDS