500 RUNNERS FOR 21KM, 10KM RACES

MBABANE – It’s ‘on your mark, get set and go’ for road runners as they will be back in action on March 19 at Lobamba.

This will be during the 21.1km and 10km races to start and finish at the OlmypAfrica Sports Development Centre, Lobamba. The race is hosted by the Athletics Eswatini (AE) in conjunction with about eight athletics clubs. The clubs are namely; Correctional Services, Royal Eswatini Police Service (REPS), Slojos, Ngculwini, Umbutfo Eswatini Defence Force (UEDF), TZD, Striders and Golden Foot Athletics club, among others.

The launch of the race was held yesterday at Sigwaca House, Mbabane where almost all the teams were represented. AE President Zakhele Dlamini, who is also the Eswatini Olympics and Commonwealth Games Association (EOCGA) Vice president said it’s been a tough two years for road runners as they were not fully active due to the COVID-19 pandemic. He said this was a pilot race that would also assist athletes to compete for upcoming races including the Tuff One and the KwaMagogo Legacy. “In the past year, our focus has been on the track and field event as it  is less risky in terms of COVID-19 and through the guidance of the government through ministry of health, we are bouncing back even with the road races,” he said.

Dlamini said they met with the clubs and decided to host the event together. He said the clubs will assist with the water stations for both races while the federation will assist with the medals. There are no prizes for this race except for medals. “It is important that we bounce back in all the sectors as athletics is a mother of all sports. Running almost applies in all the sporting codes. The race will adhere to all the world federation rules and regulations,” he added.

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