Star runners for eThekwini marathon

More than 5 000 runners and walkers are expected to compete in the annual Halala eThekwini Marathon, which incorporates the KwaZulu-Natal 42,2km championships and the 21,1km run and walk, next Sunday.

The race starts from NMR Avenue and finishes at King's Park Athletics Stadium.

Local athletes as well as runners from African countries, including Kenya and Mozambique, will battle it out.

The men's 42,2km category will be fiercely contested between reigning champion Phillip Bandawe (Harmony Gold), Liberty Nike's Brian Zondi and Vusi Sokhela, and Mr Price team runners Samuel Mdiyise and Jacob Mazibuko.

Mazibuko is a hot favourite, particularly after he won a gold medal in this year's Two Oceans Marathon, He also won the Om Die Dam 60km recently.

Top contenders for the men's 21,1km race are 2003 Comrades champion Fusi Nhlapo, Zamile Gebashe and 2003 Two Oceans Ultra Marathon champion and 2004 runner-up Mluleki Nobanda.

The women's category will see defending winner Gladys Lukhwareni taking on Tebogo Masehla (RAU) for the 21.1km title.