ZIMBABWEAN long distance runner, Rutendo Nyahora completed a successful weekend for local athletes by qualifying for the Rio Olympic Games in the women’s marathon in cold and windy conditions at the Vienna City Marathon in Austria on Sunday.
BY DANIEL NHAKANISO
The 27-year-old Pretoria-based athlete, who was competing in her maiden international marathon, finished a commendable ninth in a time of 2 hours 39 minutes 58 seconds (2:39:00) to become the first local female runner to qualify for the Olympics.
The qualification standard time for the Rio Olympic Games’ women’s marathon is at 2:42:00.
Nyahora’s qualification came less than 24 hours after United States-based Zimbabwean sprinter, Gabriel Mvumvure also qualified for the 100m after clocking 10,14 seconds at the Battle of Bayou meet in Louisiana.
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Nyahora, a dominant force on the South African circuit, where she represents the Nedbank Running Club, said she was delighted to run inside the Rio qualification standard in her first attempt.
“This was my first international marathon and I’m very happy I managed to put on a good performance and qualify for the Rio Olympic Games. However, it was not easy, the weather was challenging because it was very cold and windy, which was quite bad. But I’m happy I managed to stick to my plan and register the Olympic qualifying time in my first attempt,” she told NewsDay Sport from Vienna, Austria, yesterday.
“Qualifying for the Olympics is something that I have been working hard toward since the beginning of the year. I put in a lot of hard work to prepare for this marathon and I’m glad it has paid off in the end.”
Nyahora and Mvumvure’s qualification takes the number of individual Zimbabwean athletes, who have so far attained qualification standards for various sporting codes at the Rio Olympic Games, to 12.
The other individual athletes include swimmer Kirsty Coventry, Gavin Sutherland of archery, clay target shottist Mike Nicholson, rowers Micheen Thornycroft and Peter Purcell-Gilpin and marathon runners Wirimayi Juwawo, Pardon Ndhlovu, Gilbert Mutandiro and Cuthbert Nyasango.
Last month, United Kingdom-based eventing rider, Camilla Kruger also qualified for the Rio Olympic Games to become the first Zimbabwean to earn a ticket to compete in an equestrian event at the quadrennial showpiece.
Zimbabwe will also, for the first time, be represented in women’s football following the Mighty Warriors’ historic qualification for the Rio Games after their victory over Cameroon.
The number of locals could still increase, with additional athletes in other sporting codes such as golf, athletics, swimming, cycling, Sevens Rugby and equestrian still in contention to qualify for Rio 2016.
The Rio 2016 sport entry deadline is July 18 and thereafter the Zimbabwe Olympic Committee will announce the final team to represent the country at the global showpiece set for August 5 to 21.