THE NetOne Albun Honde Valley Marathon has reached a major milestone, earning certification from the World Athletics Board (WAB) and officially becoming a qualifier for international long-distance races.
The recognition makes it the first cross-country race in Manicaland Province to achieve this status.
The 2025 edition of the marathon is set to take place on 18–19 October.
Alois Bunjira, former CAPS United and Warriors forward and the mastermind behind the event, expressed his excitement about the achievement.
“This is a dream come true for us. One of our main goals was to get international recognition, and now the marathon is officially a qualifier for races like South Africa’s Comrades Marathon,” Bunjira said.
“This milestone also honours the late Brenda Zvinorova, our former event coordinator, who tragically passed away in a road accident while working towards this very goal.”
The certification was overseen by internationally qualified local route measurer Aaron White. His detailed report, adopted by WAB, confirmed that the course meets all World Athletics and AIMS requirements, including distance accuracy, terrain, and elevation.
“This is to certify that the NetOne Albun Honde Valley Marathon course has been measured and meets international standards for all qualification purposes,” the report states.
Joshua Matume, chairman of the Manicaland Athletics Board, said the recognition is a big boost for local athletes.
“The marathon has now grown in stature. Athletes who perform well here can use their times to qualify for international races. This recognition also puts Manicaland on the global running map,” Matume said.
