By Bernard Mhone:
Organisers of the fourth edition of the 21 kilometre Mzuzu City Half Marathon have hiked prize money for outstanding athletes in the competition set for March 28.
Athletics Malawi and Malawi National Council of Sports (MNCS) are jointly organizing the day-long event.
The hiked prizes are K2 million for the winners, up from K1.5 million while the runners-up will pocket K1.5 million which has gone up from K1 million.
The third-placed athletes will get K1 million, raised from K500,000.
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Speaking at a press briefing in Mzuzu on Wednesday, organising committee chairperson Ardron Msowoya said despite hiking the prize money, they have maintained a K40 million budget.
He then asked companies and individuals for partnership.
“We are geared for this year’s marathon and we have maintained the route. We expect to have a unique competition this time. Besides the race, we will also plant trees as we strive to retain the glory of Mzuzu City being an evergreen town.
“We have so far raised K2 million from Medhealth Malawi but there are more gaps that need to be filled. We are therefore asking other companies to come forward and help us. We have partnered Mzuzu City Council and Moyale Barracks who will help us in kind,” Msowoya said.
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MNCS Senior Sports and Recreation Development Officer for the North, Felix Yola, said the hiked prizes will motivate the athletes.
“We are expecting at least 200 participants to take part. Registration is currently underway and the door is wide open. We expect to have more athletes competing because the stakes are high. Local athletes are paying K20,000 while foreigners will need to give us K50,000 to be part of this great event.
“So getting K2 million from K20,000 or K50,000 is quite a big achievement which should motivate our runners. I therefore encourage people from all walks of life to patronise the marathon in their large numbers.
“Such activities help us to maintain our physical fitness and general well-being. I should also make it clear that this marathon is not just for young people. Old people are also welcome to join us as there will be various activities suitable for everyone,” Yola said.
The marathon’s route starts from St John’s Mission Hospital to Chimaliro, Mzuzu Technical College, Chiputula, Mzuzu Airport, Shopwise Roundabout, Mataifa Market all the way to Mzuzu Stadium and St John’s Hospital again before hitting the finishing line inside Mzuzu Stadium.
There will also be a relay race, tug-of-war and sack race, among others, to spice up the competition.
The marathon started in 2023 with 91 athletes competing and remains open to any person aged 18 and above.
Malawi Defence Force soldiers Fostina Mbemba from Moyale Barracks and Chilumba Barracks’ Brave Mwampande won the competition last year in the ladies’ and men’s categories, respectively.
The race will be held under the theme ‘Evergreen in Motion’ and will have a tree planting exercise in Mzuzu on March 19.