The annual Legends Marathon 68km ultra is proving to be a happy hunting ground for Zimbabwean long-distance runners, after the 2015 edition was won by Collen Makaza, who hails from Mugabeville.Makaza’s triumph is his second in the race, and the third by a Zimbabwean since the event was launched in 2013.
With a finishing time of 03:53:42, Makaza did better than his countryman Marko Mambo, who won it in 04:07:05 last year.
If the champ’s times, both this year and in 2013, are anything to go by, it is safe to say Makaza would be the undisputed Legends ultra champ had he participated last year.
Should the race, which started at Bhisho Stadium and finished at East London’s Jan Smuts Stadium, rather take place in Zimbabwe next year?
Makaza chuckled, saying all that made Zimbabwean long-distance runners special was sheer hard work.
“We would still win it regardless of where it is held.”
He continued: “I am happy – this is fantastic because I was scared of Marko Mambo, Bong’musa Mthembu and Ludwick Mamabolo; but taking the lead early worked to my advantage, and I knew when I took the lead at halfway there was no way anyone would catch me.”
Indeed two of the trio Makaza was wary of – Mthembu and Mamabolo, both South African – came second and third respectively, with the former finishing two minutes behind the champion and the latter five minutes off the Zimbabwean’s time.
Mambo only came in after the first five finishers.
Mthembu was happy with his performance, although winning would have been a bonus, “because for me what was important was to use this race to prepare myself for the big one – Comrades Marathon next year when I defend my downward title”.
Mthembu added: “Overall about Legends, I am very satisfied with the way I performed, including my finishing time, although I could have done better.”
The charismatic Mamabolo, a former Comrades winner in his own right, conceded that his strategy on the day had failed him.
“I am not the kind of road runner who is among the frontrunners early on in the race, which is what I did this time around, but I am happy to be among the top three finishers.”
On the subject of the Zimbabweans’ dominance, Mamabolo said: “There is nothing special that they are doing – you win some you lose some.
“Well done to Makaza because his execution was spot on.”
The first Eastern Cape athlete to reach the finish line was George Ntshiliza, of Bluewater Bay Road Runners Club in Port Elizabeth, who finished 11th, about 19 minutes behind the champion.
Athletics SA president Aleck Skhosana described this year’s Legends Marathon as a big success, with the race fast becoming one of the country’s flagship long-distance events.
And what did the federation say about foreign runners continuing to bulldoze their local counterparts?
Skhosana weighed in: “The problem is on the continent of Africa; South Africa has many long-distance events and our athletes do not pick and choose which races to run and which ones not to run – they want to run them all, while runners from up north know which marathons to target, hence they dominate.”
In the women’s category of the ultra, Jennifer Keoch, of Kenyan descent, was the first to reach the finish line – more than an hour after Makaza.
Second lady home was Monica Kativhu from Zimbabwe, while Gladys Lukhwareni finished third. — mawandem@dispatch.co.za
PHOTO GALLERY: Early push in Legends Marathon brings gold for Makaza
Makaza’s triumph is his second in the race, and the third by a Zimbabwean since the event was launched in 2013.
With a finishing time of 03:53:42, Makaza did better than his countryman Marko Mambo, who won it in 04:07:05 last year.
If the champ’s times, both this year and in 2013, are anything to go by, it is safe to say Makaza would be the undisputed Legends ultra champ had he participated last year.
Should the race, which started at Bhisho Stadium and finished at East London’s Jan Smuts Stadium, rather take place in Zimbabwe next year?
Makaza chuckled, saying all that made Zimbabwean long-distance runners special was sheer hard work.
“We would still win it regardless of where it is held.”
He continued: “I am happy – this is fantastic because I was scared of Marko Mambo, Bong’musa Mthembu and Ludwick Mamabolo; but taking the lead early worked to my advantage, and I knew when I took the lead at halfway there was no way anyone would catch me.”
Indeed two of the trio Makaza was wary of – Mthembu and Mamabolo, both South African – came second and third respectively, with the former finishing two minutes behind the champion and the latter five minutes off the Zimbabwean’s time.
Mambo only came in after the first five finishers.
Mthembu was happy with his performance, although winning would have been a bonus, “because for me what was important was to use this race to prepare myself for the big one – Comrades Marathon next year when I defend my downward title”.
Mthembu added: “Overall about Legends, I am very satisfied with the way I performed, including my finishing time, although I could have done better.”
The charismatic Mamabolo, a former Comrades winner in his own right, conceded that his strategy on the day had failed him.
“I am not the kind of road runner who is among the frontrunners early on in the race, which is what I did this time around, but I am happy to be among the top three finishers.”
On the subject of the Zimbabweans’ dominance, Mamabolo said: “There is nothing special that they are doing – you win some you lose some.
“Well done to Makaza because his execution was spot on.”
The first Eastern Cape athlete to reach the finish line was George Ntshiliza, of Bluewater Bay Road Runners Club in Port Elizabeth, who finished 11th, about 19 minutes behind the champion.
Athletics SA president Aleck Skhosana described this year’s Legends Marathon as a big success, with the race fast becoming one of the country’s flagship long-distance events.
And what did the federation say about foreign runners continuing to bulldoze their local counterparts?
Skhosana weighed in: “The problem is on the continent of Africa; South Africa has many long-distance events and our athletes do not pick and choose which races to run and which ones not to run – they want to run them all, while runners from up north know which marathons to target, hence they dominate.”
In the women’s category of the ultra, Jennifer Keoch, of Kenyan descent, was the first to reach the finish line – more than an hour after Makaza.
Second lady home was Monica Kativhu from Zimbabwe, while Gladys Lukhwareni finished third. — mawandem@dispatch.co.za
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