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Zimbabwe long-distance runner Cuthbert Nyasango delighted with form

Sport
SEASONED Zimbabwe long-distance runner Cuthbert Nyasango is delighted with his form

SEASONED Zimbabwe long-distance runner Cuthbert Nyasango is delighted with his form after achieving a season best time on his way to finishing a commendable 11th in a world class field at the Lisbon Marathon in Portugal on Sunday.

BY DANIEL NHAKANISO SPORTS REPORTER

The Lisbon Half Marathon of Lisbon was an IAAF Gold Label Road Race and attracted some of the world’s best distance runners. Nyasango, who was competing in only his second international race since the Mumbai Marathon in January crossed the finishing line in one hour, three minutes, six seconds (1:03:06).

Although Nyasango’s time was slower than his personal best of 1:00:26 he achieved in October 2007 in Italy, it was, however, his fastest time over the same distance this year.

While other runners were using the event to prepare IAAF World Half-Marathon Championships to be staged in Copenhagen, Denmark on March 29, Nyasango said his focus was on a yet-to-be confirmed major marathon event in May.

“Obviously Kenyan runners dominated the race, but I think I did well according to my training. I completed the race in 63,06 seconds which is a very good time. I was using this race to prepare for my next major Marathon. I still haven’t decided which marathon I will be entering, but it will definitely be in May,” he said.

Nyasango is currently the country’s leading marathon runner after finishing a respectable 7th position at the 2012 London Olympic Games to record the best ever marathon finish by a Zimbabwean at the quadrennial global sporting fiesta.

On an unseasonably hot day in the Portuguese capital, with temperatures rising to 22 degrees Celsius, many of the elite field struggled to cope with the conditions except for the Kenyan runners.

Kenya’s Bedan Karoki was the eventual winner as he cruised to victory in 59 minutes 58 seconds, ahead of his compatriots Silas Kipruto and Ezekiel Chebi who finished in second and third position respectively.

In fact Kenyan runners completely dominated the race with seven of their athletes managing to finish in the top 10.