The Sunday Mail
Lawson Madzivanyika
ELIJAH PANGISO’S bid for a fifth consecutive Econet Victoria Falls Marathon triumph might have failed by 10 seconds last weekend but there can be no denying that the veteran is the man of the moment. A week after defending his Tanganda Tea Half-Marathon in Mutare, the 32–year-old Pangiso headed for Victoria Falls seeking to make it five in a row but Virimai Juwawo had other ideas. Pangiso crossed the line in 1:6:16 – just 10s after his long-time rival had broken the tape.
The result brought to an end a spell that saw Pangiso win the Tanganda marathon twice in the last two years, setting a new record in the Mutare race a fortnight ago, and triumphing at the Gutu Half-Marathon towards the end of 2015.
Despite his winning run coming to an end, the Zimbabwe Prison and Correctional Services athlete warns he is not done yet.
“I was hoping to make this my fifth title . . . It was a tight race and the fans enjoyed it but all credit to Juwawo for putting up a good fight and winning the race, he is a talented athlete and a great competitor.
“What happened in Vic Falls only serves to further motivate me into working harder and dreaming bigger. I have won everything that is on offer on the local scene and its time I start making my presence felt on the international scene as well.”
Pangiso’s road to fame started in 2000 when he joined Millennium Athletics Academy as he pursued a long-cherished dream of becoming a professional athlete.
In 2005, he jumped ship to train with the then Zimbabwe Prison Services where his hard work was rewarded with employment there.
Pangiso is married to Ethel Sibanda and they have three daughters – Devotion, Devine and Decision.
