Thieves ruin Comrades spirit

Thieves violated the spirit of the Comrades Marathon when they broke into a past winner’s van, stole his equipment and then used his hotel card to make off with all his belongings – including his passport.

Russian twins Elena and Olesya Nurgalieva, who came first and second in yesterday’s race, also had their possessions stolen from the car.

Elena is a six-time winner of the marathon and holds the record for the up run which she set in 2006.

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Big honour for Muzhingi

Three-time Comrades Marathon champion Stephen Muzhingi will be feted like a King after President Robert Mugabe and Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai agreed at a Cabinet meeting on Tuesday to honour the sporting icon.

Muzhingi’s exploits in the Comrades Marathon were discussed at length at a Cabinet meeting and Mugabe and Tsvangirai were of the same thinking that the Masvingo-born athlete should be honoured.

It is understood that Muzhingi is set to be given a diplomatic passport and cash at a State function to be graced by the two political leaders. The date for the function is yet to be set.

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Muzhingi eyes Comrades Marathon record

History-making Comrades Marathon winner, Stephen Muzhingi (Pictured), is confident of matching the record of wins in the competition that was set 23 years ago by a South African athlete.
After winning the world’s most popular marathon event, the Zimbabwean said he was now setting his sights on breaking the record Bruce Fordyce set in 1988 as he won his eighth title. This past weekend Muzhingi secured victory to become the first athlete to win three titles in succession after Fordyce, the best athlete to compete in the marathon.
“I am aiming for that record, starting with next year where I am confident I can win my fourth title,” the award-winning Zimbabwean told this newspaper after winning the challenging marathon. Muzhinigi, sponsored by retail chain Mr Price, followed up his two down run victories with an up run victory in the 86th edition of the Ultimate Human Race from Durban to Pietermaritzburg.

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RADCLIFFE: I CAN STILL COMPETE

Paula Radcliffe insists her injury-affected return to action in the Bupa London 10,000 on Monday is not the beginning of the end for one of the world's finest distance runners.

The 37-year-old, hampered by a torn disc in her back, could only finish third on her long-awaited comeback following an 18-month absence, beaten in the 10 kilometre road race by winner Jo Pavey and Gemma Steel, a 25-year-old who has never represented Britain in a track or road race.

It is the latest in an almost endless list of injury problems which have plagued the marathon world record holder throughout her career, notably at the 2004 and 2008 Olympics when her chances were ruined in the first instance by a stomach upset and in the second a stress fracture of her femur and a hip injury.

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Wanjiru burial team rejects bid to replace chair

Friends and relatives of marathon champion Samuel Wanjiru have resisted a move by his mother to have funeral committee chairman Ndegwa Wahome step down.

Ms Hannah Wanjiru had asked Mr Wahome, a lawyer, to disqualify himself from chairing the committee on grounds that he represents the interests of her daughter-in-law Terezah Njeri.

In separate interviews with Nation, members of the committee said Mr Wahome was unanimously elected chairman during the first meeting by Nyahururu residents and other friends of the late Wanjiru.

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Kiwi drugs cheat is back in the running again

Liza Hunter-Galvan is a shock entry in this Sunday's Christchurch marathon – and not everyone is happy.

Just days after completing her two-year ban for using EPO, the United States-based Hunter-Galvan has chosen the Christchurch event as the beginning of her road back to redemption.

Her entry has been met with swift opposition from Wellington's Gabrielle O'Rourke, who holds two national titles and ran 10th in the 1993 Boston Marathon.

O'Rourke, who is running the half-marathon in Christchurch, says a group of runners find Hunter-Galvan's entry "too raw".

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New Zealand's Smith set for NY Marathon

New Zealand's Kim Smith, who led the first 17 miles of the Boston Marathon in April before being forced out by a leg injury, was named on Wednesday as an entrant in this year's New York Marathon.
Organizers of the November 6 race said Smith will make that her return to marathon action and will return to competition for the first time since Boston on June 11 in the New York Mini 10K race.
"I can't wait to step on the line in November," Smith said. "I want to put my Boston Marathon experience behind me and I hope to do that in New York. Marathon weekend in New York is so exciting. It's a lot of fun to be part of the buzz."

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