Moyale retain inter-unit cross-country championship
Moyale Barracks athletics team has for the fourth consecutive time defended the Malawi Defence Force (MDF) inter-unit cross-country championship which was held at Zomba Gymkhana Club golf course on Friday.
In a competition which pooled athletes from all MDF units in the country, the Kaning’ina soldiers amassed 17 points in the men teams’ category and went away with K250 000, a trophy and gold medals.
Administration Lilongwe came second and received K200 000 plus silver medals whereas third-placed 2nd Malawi Rifles went away with K150 000 and bronze medals.
Moyale coach Warrant Officer Class II Emmanuel Mlonya attributed his team’s success to thorough preparations.
“We do not start preparing for such competitions when there are only a few weeks to go. That is one of the reasons our colleagues flop because ours is a continuous process. We do inter-company competitions at our base where we identify athletes to represent us in the national championship,” said Mlonya.
In women teams’ category, 1st Malawi Rifles emerged champions and were awarded K150 000, a trophy and gold medals whereas second-placed Administration Lilongwe received K100 000 plus silver medals ahead of third-placed Mafco who carted home K70 000 and bronze medals.
In the 12-kilometre individual men’s category, recruit Happy Nchelenga clocked 40:49:94 minutes to win and receive K70 000. He was followed by long distance runners Mike Tebulo and John Kayange, who clocked 41:21:66 minutes and 41:30:25 minutes to receive K55 000 and K45 000 respectively.
Nancy Matanda led the winners pack in the women’s category when she clocked 33:03:57. She received K55 000 whereas Alice Msumba came second in 34:33:17 minutes to get K45 000. Lucia Chandamale, who came third on 34:57:08 minutes got K30 000.
