The Blantyre Marathon has been rebranded as Blantyre 42.195-kilometre (km) Race and returns on September 4.

The Malawi National Council of Sports’ annual competition normally takes place in June since its inception in 2019, but it has been delayed this year after an interested party contested the event’s naming rights.

During a press briefing in Blantyre yesterday, the council’s public relations and communications officer Edgar Ntulumbwa said they are good to go with the new name.

Ng’oma: The competition is open

“The sorting out of the issue to do with the naming rights disturbed our schedule. However, now everything has been sorted out and the stage is set for action,” he said.

The race’s marketing chairperson Unkhankhu Ng’oma said registration has started.

He said: “The competition is open to both local and international athletes. Entry fee is K20 000 for locals and $100 for foreign participants. Registration is being conducted both online through the council’s website www.mncs.mw or Facebook page.

“It can also be done through district sports officers, regional sports officers or the Sports Council office.”

Champions in both men and women’s categories will receive K1.2 million each while runners-up and third-placed will get K1 million and K500 000 respectively.

Others within the top-10 brackets will also receive prizes.

The competition’s technical chairperson Mzee Makawa said contestants are challenged to break the record of 2:18.35 hours (hrs) held by Henry Moyo in 2002.

Last year, Mphatso Nadolo took the glory in the men’s section in 2.22 hrs while . Nalicy Chirwa won in the women’s section.

The race starts from the NBS Bank Building in Blantyre, passes through Nancholi, Chilimba, Machinjiri, Limbe and ends at Kamuzu Stadium.

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