REIGNING champion Kelvin Pangiso will be the man to beat when he defends his title at the $150 000 Old Mutual Westgate Half Marathon at Westgate Shopping Centre tomorrow.
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The 34-year-old middle and long distance runner has an impressive record in the lucrative road race and will be gunning for his third title in four years.
Pangiso first triumphed at the Westgate half-marathon in 2011 before the coming-in of Old Mutual Zimbabwe as the title sponsors before romping home again to claim last year’s title ahead of Olympian Wirimayi Juwao.
However, despite the impressive record, Pangiso is expected to face some stiff competition from other top local runners, who are expected to grace the prestigious race.
Shabanie Mine Athletics Club’s Juwao, who came second last year, will be hoping to go one place better this year as he eyes his second Mutual Westgate Half Marathon title.
Like Pangiso, Juwao, who represented the country at the 2012 London Olympic Games, also enjoys a good record at the prestigious 21 km race. In 2012 Juwao after he shrugged off Pangiso’s challenge to become the first winner of the revamped Old Mutual Westgate Half Marathon.
While an intriguing duel is expected between Juwao and Pangiso, other top runners, who are also expected to challenge for top honours include seasoned Olympic runner Cuthbert Nyasango, Elmore Sibanda, Lewis Masunda, and Jonathan Chinyoka, amongst other.
