Herald
31st May 2011
By Collin Matiza
KIRSTY COVENTRY said Stephen Muzhingi made her proud to be a Zimbabwean while Education, Sport, Arts and Culture Minister David Coltart described his Comrades Marathon success story as a remarkable tale.
Muzhingi powered to an historic achievement of winning the Comrades Marathon for three years in a row in South Africa on Sunday.
Muzhingi (33) became the first man in 23 years to win the Comrades Marathon for three years on the trot with a convincing victory in the 86th edition of the race in Pietermaritzburg. The Zimbabwean runners stole clear with 14km remaining to win the 87km ultra-marathon in 5 hours 32 minutes 45 seconds.
Zimbabwe’s swimming sensation, Olympic Games champion Kirsty Coventry also took her hat off to Muzhingi after Sunday’s race in Pietermaritzburg.
Coventry, who was at the finish line, said on Twitter: “Congratulations Stephen Muzhingi. Hat-trick! You make me proud to be a Zimbabwean!”
Sports Minister David Coltart led the plaudits, describing Muzhingi’s treble as “truly remarkable”.
Coltart is reported to have watched Sunday’s Comrades Marathon on television and posted several Twitter updates during the race.  “Very few people seem to appreciate what a truly remarkable win Stephen Muzhingi has had today,” Coltart said.  “He is a humble man from a poor background who has achieved this magnificent hat-trick without much of the backing that athletes receive elsewhere in the world. “We need to turn out in force when Muzhingi returns so he knows that Zimbabwe is proud and mightily impressed with his achievements.”
On Sunday, Muzhingi once again showed that he was made of steel when he beat South African Fanie Matshipa, who had done a lot of the hard work, pushing the pace in the second half, into second place.
Muzhingi’s countryman, Point Chaza, had broken away early and held a lead of more than seven minutes at the halfway mark, which he crossed in 2:36.19, on record pace.
Chaza, however, faded soon after with Muzhingi and Matshipa storming past with 30km to go. Muzhingi admitted after the race that Chaza had been ordered to set the pace for the rest of the Formula One Bluffs Meat team.
“We sent Point to the front as a ploy, to help set the pace for us,” Muzhingi told reporters after the race on Sunday. “He did a good job, even though it was tough out there.”
Matshipa looked to be in control, but Muzhingi’s experience showed and he pulled clear with 14km remaining to win the 87km ultra-marathon in 5:32.45.
The Zimbabwean had predicted before the race that he would improve Shvetsov’s record for the “up” run, but he realised going up Polly Shortts, with eight kilometres to go, that he would miss the mark.
“I was aiming to run 5:24 and I was working at it,” Muzhingi said. “After halfway I was trying to break away from that guy (Matshipa) but I was in pain.
Muzhingi, who won the “down” run the last two years, secured his maiden victory in the “up” run to become the first athlete to win three titles in succession since South Africa’s Bruce Fordyce bagged his eighth straight win in 1988. Matshipa, who was fifth last year, struggled over Polly Shortts, the last of the race’s five big hills, but held on to cross the line in 5:34.29.
He said he had fallen ill before the race, which affected his performance in the latter stages.
“I tried to catch him (Muzhingi) but I had flu before the race and I had no energy left,” Matshipa said. Â “I was determined to push the pace, which I did until just before Polly Shortts, but then I had nothing left.”
Muzhingi said he would have another crack at the record, and was confident he could improve the mark in the next ‘up’ run in 2013.  “When I come here next time I will have a different strategy, perhaps one that will help me break 5:24,” Muzhingi said.  “I know I have it in me to break the record. I want the record and I will get it. I know it.”