Pascalinah Kabi
MASERU — The 21.1-kilometre Blue Mountain Inn Half Marathon roars into life this morning in Teyateyaneng, Berea.
The half marathon, bankrolled by Blue Mountain Inn to the tune of M50 000, will see over 40 athletes battling it out for the M4 000 first prize money on offer, both for the male and female categories.
Chaplin Development Athletics Club (Cadac) founder and coach, Mokete Chaplin Mpomane, who is organising the race, told the Sunday Express on Friday it was all systems go ahead of the race this morning.
“Everything is set and we are ready to run this race the best way we know how,” Mpomane said.
“I have just arrived from South Africa this morning to collect runners’ numbers, route markings are complete and we believe this is going to be a success.”
He said Teyateyaneng villagers will take part in the half-marathon by offering water to the athletes at specified water-points along the route.
The purpose of the marathon, Mpomane said, is to prevent crime through sports, identify talent as well as get the country ready for the Olympic Games in 2016.
The first and second runners-up will walk away with M2 000 and M1 000 respectively.
Fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh placed finishers will respectively go home M1 500, M1 200, M1 000, M900 and M800 richer.
Runners who will finish the race in eighth, ninth and tenth position will each get a consolation prize of M500 in cash.
In the juniors category, winners in both boys and girls’ categories will walk away with M2 000.
The first and second runners-up will get M1 200 and M1 000 respectively while the fourth, fifth and sixth finishers will pocket M800, M700 and M500 respectively.
The seventh position finisher will get M400 while the last three runners in the top ten will each receives M300 in cash as consolation prize.
In the veterans’ category, winners and their first and second runners-up will walk away with M800, M400 and M300 respectively.
The winner in the masters’ category will walk away with M1 000 while the grandmasters’ champion will pocket M900.
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