More than 200 athletes are set to compete in the highly anticipated 3rd edition of the Mzuzu City Half Marathon, scheduled to take place tomorrow 29th March 2025 at Mzuzu Stadium from 6:30 AM.
Chairperson of the event’s organizing committee, Peter Mumba, has assured that preparations are nearly complete and expects this year’s edition to be bigger and better than the previous ones.
“I am confident that we are fully prepared for the event. People should expect more excitement. In the first and second editions we saw stiff competition from the athletes which is good for the growth of athletics in Malawi. This year, we anticipate an even better time, making the competition more thrilling. Additionally, we will have relay races inside the stadium and various activities to add to the fun,” said Mumba.
Athletics Malawi General Secretary, Nicholas Kanyenda, also expressed enthusiasm for the marathon, emphasizing its importance in athlete development.
“Events like these provide a platform for athletes to test their potential and improve their performance. More importantly, they help us identify talent for international competitions,” explained Kanyenda.
This year’s top finishers in both the men’s and women’s categories will walk away with MK1.5 million, while the runners-up will receive MK1 million. Third-place finishers will take home MK500,000.
In last year’s edition, Chikondi Mwanyali won the men’s category, completing the 21 km race in 1:06:00, while Fostiner Mbeba claimed victory in the women’s race with a time of 1:22:00.
A significant change this year is that Athletics Malawi is managing the event for the first time, after the Malawi National Council of Sports handed over the responsibility following its management of the first two editions.
In addition to the main race, the event will also feature fun runs and relay races, promising an action-packed day for both athletes and spectators.