HARARE - Close to 500 athletes are expected to compete for honours in the 32-kilometre Europcar and Dendairy 20 Miller road race next month.

The 42nd edition of Harare Athletic Club (Hac)’s premier event will be the third year Europcar have been the flagship sponsor of the event.

Dendairy, Rooney’s and Fuchs chip in as associate sponsors.

Apart from monetary honours expected to be up for grabs, athletes will be out to overturn both the men and women’s

32-kilometre records that have stretched over two decades.

The men’s record is currently held by Paul Moqhali of Swaziland with a time of 1.42.30 run in 1991 while the women’s record is held by Zimbabwe’s Debbie Lambourne with a time of 2.07.19 attained in 1998.

Two-time winner Nkosiyazi Sibanda, who has dominated the race in recent years, is the current defending men’s champion after winning last year’s event in a time of 1.45.33.

2012 Olympian Sharon Tavengwa was the winner in 2011 with a time of 2.07.17.

In a press statement released last week, Hac said preparations for the race were at an advanced stage.

“There will be prize money on offer for all categories. There will be a 21km Hot Spot, sponsored by Fuchs Zimbabwe, with the first runners reaching the 21km mark receiving cash prizes at the end.

The runners will however, have to complete the full 32 kilometres to claim the hot spot prize.

“We have re-introduced the relay, however, there will be no prize money linked with this event. The relay will be a 16km x 2 only. This will be a fun run.

“Entry for the relay will be $15 per runner, which will include a race T-shirt for each relay runner.”

The race will take place on December 2 and starts at the 13km peg along the Shamva Road, climbs steadily up to Glen Lorne, and rolls to Old Georgians Sports Club, the home of Hac.
 
Entry fee for the road race has been pegged at $20.

Registration is set for Friday prior to the event at Old Georgians Sports from 5pm and on Saturday between 11am and 4pm.