Lanky Zimbabwean athlete Nkosiyazi Sibanda retained his title when he won the men’s division of the Two Countries Marathon that finished in Musina on Saturday.

Sibanda (27), of the Blanket Mine Athletics Club in the Gwanda area of Zimbabwe, who runs barefoot, completed the race in 2:28:55. He received R3 600 in prize money after the race. The race started at the 10km peg outside Beit Bridge town in Zimbabwe and finished at the Eric Louw High School in Musina

Sipho Motau of the Nedbank Athletics Club in Louis Trichardt came second, finishing the race in 2:50:21. He was also the first veteran (40+ category). Motau pocketed a total of R2 200 after having competed in the two categories, open and veterans. Thifhelimbilu Ngobe of Tshakhuma finished third and went away with R 600.

The ladies champion in the 42.2 km is Jane Mudau from Thohoyandou, a member of the Nedbank Athletics Club. She romped to victory in 3:29:28, followed by Azwindini Lukwareni, who finished the race in 4:24:0, while Betty Mundalamo came third in 4:37:14.

Millen Matende from Zimbabwe won the half-marathon (21.1km) in the men’s category. He finished the race in 1:08:23 to win a gold medal and R2 100 prize money. Rabson Chigara and Tsungai Mwanengeni, both Zimbabweans, took the second and third positions, finishing in 1:08:30 and 1:09:33 respectively. Chigara pocketed R1 100, while Mwanengeni received R600.

In the veteran’s category of the half-marathon, the Zimbabwean trio of Kingston Maringe, Maxwell Bangani and Nicholas Nyengerai also came in the top three and scooped the medals and prize money.

In the ladies half-marathon, Zimbabwean Varaidzo Shindi got the first prize, after beating her compatriot Olivia Chitate and Cynthia Mavhunga of the Mr Price Athletics Club.

Mashudu Mbodi won the 21.1 km in the walkers’ category, finishing the race in 2:32:02 and C Mavhima won the veterans category of  the women’s half-marathon by beating Fhulu Masindi and Joyce Mulaudzi. Mavhima completed the race in 1:54:02 while Masindi and Mulaudzi finished in 1:56:16 and 1:57:08 respectively.

In the juniors (13-18 years) category, Fhatuwani Mudzanani raced home in 1:14:39 to win R400 and a gold medal, followed by A Maganndi (1:16:40) and C Mulaudzi (1:17:48).

Mr Hennie Coetzee of the Soutpansburg Athletics Club described this year’s Two Countries Marathon as a successful event and he paid tribute to the sponsors, among them Phalaphala FM, and the participants from both Zimbabwe and South Africa for supporting the event.

This year’s marathon was held under the theme Running for Togetherness. The marathon is part of the good relationship between the Musina municipality and the Beit Bridge Rural district council. The two councils signed a twinning agreement to work and complement each other in various area of community development.