This year’s 42.195-kilometre (km) Blantyre race will take place on September 7 under the theme ‘Race Up’, with the overall winner receiving K1.5 million in both the men’s and women’s categories.
Malawi National Council of Sports (MNCS) Director of Planning, Marketing and Infrastructure, Limbani Matola, disclosed this at a press briefing in Blantyre Tuesday.
He said the race is open to all, including professional athletes and amateurs.
“This year’s race is getting bigger and better as we have introduced more events, including 5km and 10km races and aerobics, guaranteeing more fun, fitness, and social networking,” Matola said.
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He also revealed that funds raised from this year’s event will be donated to a hospital in Blantyre in October.
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The event’s head of technical, Evance Chiphwanya, said this year’s race is unique and there will be no room for tricksters.
“We have had cases of cheating before due to the way we used to set up the event. Let me warn those planning to cheat that they will not succeed this time around. We have devised ways to curb cheating, but we will not disclose the mechanisms now,” Chiphwanya said.
Meanwhile, the Sports Council is calling for partnerships from companies and organisations to brand, engage and interact with their clients.
The race will start from the Wanderers Club junction, proceeding to the Shoprite Roundabout, taking Kamuzu Highway through Baptist, down Kenyatta Drive to Kwacha, then Kuhes down to Cfao, finishing at Kamuzu Stadium.
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Last year’s winner in the men’s category was Grevazio Mpani, while Nalicy Chirwa defended the women’s category.
MNCS has also revised prizes for this year to 15 people from eight last year, with the first prize being K1.5 million, the second-placed athlete receiving K1 million and the third-place athlete getting K750,000.
In the 10km race, the first prize is K750,000, the second K500,000 and the third K250,000.
In the 5km race, the winner will receive K375,000, the second-placed athlete K250,000 and the third K125,000.
The registration fee for the 42.195km race is K20,000, while the 10km race costs K15,000. To participate in the 5km race, participants will pay K10,000 each.
