Story by Raynald Ngwarati
PREPARATIONS are in full swing for the third edition of the Musabvunda Half Marathon slated for Blackistone Primary School on May 11, with special emphasis on grooming future long-distance athletes.
With an existing gap in the long-distance athletics grooming base, the organisers of the marathon are eyeing to attract younger audiences in order to set the platform for the country’s excellence on the international scene.
Speaking to ZBC News at the venue, Musabvunda Chief Executive Officer Kudzai Pasipanodya outlined the initiatives in motion to make this year’s edition bigger and better as well as the future of the marathon.
“This is our third edition and next year, we are going to make this a full marathon. It will be a qualifier for the Olympics, for Comrades and the Two Oceans. We want to groom the young people so that they can achieve their God-given talents and we try to promote sport through that.”
With a special eye on the development of athletics at the grassroots, the organisers of the event have incorporated the marathon with fun and entertainment to generate interest from the younger ages.
“We have made it a fun day for everyone, be it kids, those who love entertainment and those who love fitness. So we will have games and quad bikes to make it a fun day, but most importantly we will start with a half marathon. It is only about 21 kilometres (km), but those that can run 3km, 5km and 10 km can come,” Pasipanodya stated.
The Musabvunda Half Marathon is an annual event that celebrates long-distance athletics, with the vision of making the country a powerhouse on the athletic field.
