Tavengwa, Moyo out of Comrades marathon

CAJ News.

JOHANNESBURG. TOP Zimbabwean female long distance runners Sharon Tavengwa and Samkeliso Moyo will not participate in this year’s 89km Comrades Marathon road race on May 30.

Tavengwa is in Kenya where she is bracing for international races in Europe in March.

She won both Nedbank road races for Johannesburg and Bloemfontein last year.

Dewald Stan, who works with Tavengwa’s Kenyan trainer Dan Muchoki, said the two Zimbabwean runners would not take part in the Comrades Marathon this year, claiming that it was a useless event, despite the fact that it has attracted international athletes over the years.

"My athletes will not take part in this year’s athletes to participate in events that add value as the Olympics and other internationally recognised events," said Stan.

Stan’s comments come at a time preparations for the Comrades’ 85th marathon race were underway. About 5 000 athletes from 54 countries have so far confirmed participation. Last year 13 000 runners from 48 countries took part in the gruelling race.

But a spokesman for the race organisers, Craig Fry, dismissed the claims the event was "meaningless" saying athletes from as far as the United States, Canada,Argentina, Brazil and United Kingdom have always participated in the Marathon, and would be there again this year.

"This is the world’s biggest event outside the Olympic Games, and we are being surprised by such utterances," said Fry.

The absence of Tavengwa and Moyo, two Zimbabweans who have made their mark on the South African arena, will be greeted with joy by runners who have lived in their shadow, as they will have an opportunity to impress. Last year Zimbabwe’s Stephen Muzhingi won the man’s race in 5hours 23 minutes 27 seconds, while Russia’s Olesya Nurgalieva clinched the honours in the women’s section, clocking 6hrs 12mins 12 sec.