SOUTH African Runner Prosper Mutwira, has won the Kansanshi Marathon’s 42.2km race walking away with K 42,000 after a 02:25:43 finish while Kenya’s Rholex Jelimo Kogo won from the women side after finishing at 02:37:44 and also walked away with K 42,000.
Zambia’s best runner in the 42.2km race, Edward Mwale could only manage a third position finish at 02:27:16 just behind Zimbabwe’s Lyno Muchena whose finish was 02:25:59 and won K 14,000.
In the Half Marathon race, Kenya’s Cosmas Kipkoech Mutal finished the 21.1km race at 01:05:20 to take the K 21,000 prize money while country mate Abigael Jerop finished first among the women pocketing the same amount.
Zambia’s Aaron Hiyamwa, won the 10km race walking away with K 10,000 finishing at 00:31:31 while country mate Offless Sijuwa finished first among the women at 00:37:46 to pocket the same amount.
Meanwhile, Vista Simalumba finished his race at 00:16:06 among the men while Esther Sijuwa was first finisher among the women at 00:21:32 in the 5km category that had over 500 athletes and both walking away with K 5,000 each.
Zambians collected more medals in the 10 and 5km races, there were also winners in the second, third, fourth and fifth positions in all the races.
Chief Kapinjimpanga who attended the event expressed delight that Kansanshi Mining Plc, provided such a platform that would allow Zambians nurture their talents and begin to compete in such sporting activities at International Level.
Kansanshi Mining Plc General Manager, Anthony Mukutuma, said the mine is eager to promote health among citizens especially after coming from the deadly pandemic Covid-19.
The General Manager also announced that the Kansanshi Marathon is not a one-off activity but will be held annually as way of also encouraging social engagements with the community.
And Zambia Athletics President, Elias Mpondela has urged Zambians not to complaining about foreign participants winning but should prepare and come back stronger next year and claim medals.
Mpondela, said the support to athletics by Kansanshi Mining plc and its sponsors will go a long way in uplifting the sports discipline.
12 Kenyans, 3 South Africans and two Zimbabweans were among the over 1,000 athletes that participated in the Kansanshi Marathon held at Trident College in Solwezi.