By YVONNE SAKALA –

MATHEWS Mutanya of Green Eagles yesterday defended his Lafarge Lusaka Marathon for the third year after beating four other runners who took part in the 42.19-kilometre marathon race category to pocket K10,000.
Mutanya scooped this year’s championship after clocking 2:23:01 which is 11 minutes behind the national marathon record time.
The champion was closely pursued by Caphus Maumbi of Green Buffaloes in the second position after timing 2:24:25 to walk away with K8,000, while Jonas Nyondo came third with 2:27:05 minutes.
Nzala Chazangwe of Zambia Police emerged fourth in the category after recording 2:27:10 minutes with Wefer Chisangano Green Buffaloes coming fifth on 2:32:11 minutes.
And the champion said he was happy to have won for the third time, saying the competition has improved and was happy with the prize money he had won.

Meanwhile, In the women’s category Florence Mukuka emerged winner after timing 2:57:41 minutes to win K10,000 she was closely followed by Mercy Kalunga ZNS who timed 3:16:46 minutes who walked away with K8,000 Marble Namonda settled for the third position with the time of 4:02:36 minutes while Sarah Jacobsz came out fourth on 4:02:39 leaving Namakando Namakando coming fifth on 4:05:52 minutes.
The 21 kilometre race was won by Costain Chiyabe of Zambia Sugar, with the time of 1:05:18 minutes and was followed by Edward Mwanza who timed 1:05:55 minutes.
Paul Ngulube came out third on 1:06:17 minutes leaving Arnold Mayinga to settle for fourth on 1:08:18 minutes with Mauris Munkonbwe coming out fifth on 1; 09:15 minutes respectively.
And speaking after the race Sports Minister Vincent Mwale commended the Zambia Amatuer Athletics Association and Lafarge for successfully organizing the event.
Mwale who took part in the 10 kilometre race said Government had committed itself in promoting sports activities of that magnitude.
And Lafarge managing director Emmanuel Rigaux said the event was a huge success and hoped that the next year’s event would be much better.
Rigaux thanked the partners ZAAA and other sponsors for making the event a success and also hailed the participants for taking part in the competition.
Meanwhile, ZAAA president Elias Mpondela said the Lusaka marathon was getting better each year, saying this year’s event had attracted more runners than the previous year.
Mpondela said the competition had participants from seven countries namely Finland, Sweden, United States of America, South Africa, Germany among others.