Zimbabwean female long-distance runner Sharon Tavengwa failed to last the distance in the women’s Olympic marathon yesterday in London after withdrawing with just over seven kilometres to go.
Tavengwa, who was wearing bib number 3369, got her race off to a decent start after keeping up with the leaders before running out of steam in wet conditions and eventually pulling out just after 30km of the gruelling 40km race.
Ethiopia’s Tiki Gelana held off Kenyan Priscah Jeptoo to win gold in a soggy Olympic women’s marathon.
Gelana clocked two hours 23 minutes and seven seconds, finishing five seconds ahead of Jeptoo.
Russian Tatyana Petrova Arkhipova won bronze.
The 28-year-old Tavengwa, who prior to the race had complained of a nagging knee injury, becomes the third Zimbabwean athlete to complete her campaign at the Olympics empty handed.
Swimming icon Kirsty Coventry, rowers Micheen Thornycroft and Jamie Frazer Mckenzie all found the going tough and Zimbabwe now look set to complete the games without a single medal.
Male triathlete Chris Felgate is expected to take part in the triathlon race at Hyde Park tomorrow before Wirimayi Juwao and Cuthbert complete Zimbabwe’s participation at the Games on Sunday.
