Nizeyimana, Nyirarukundo win Musanze 'peace marathon'

Men 1. Alex Nizeyimana 46:50:882. Hussein Habumugisha 47:21:613. Jean Marie Vianney Myasiro 47:29:214. John Hakizimana 47:44:545. Noel Hitimana 47:56:10 Women 1. Salome Nyirarukundo 54:55:592. Celine Iranzi 56:42:123. Marie Clementine Mukandanga 57:11:944. Martha Yankurije 58:59:225. Alice Mukamana 1:11:01:66 Alex Nizeyimana (men) and Salome Nyirarukundo (women) won the Kigali International Peace marathon—Northern Province race held on Sunday in Musanze District. Nizeyimana clocked 46 minutes and 50 seconds to claim a gold medal to beat off stiff challenge from rivals; Hussein Habumugisha, who used 47:21:61 to win silver and Jean Marie Vianney Myasiro who covered the 15km in 47:29:21 to settle for bronze. “I am very excited to win this race because it was my target and I tried to use my time well, and also I was fresh from intensive training,” said Nizeyimana. Solome Nyirarukundo displays her prize. (G. Assimwe) In the women’s fray, youngster Nyirarukundo, who won last year’s Kigali HeForShe Marathon covered the 15km race in 54 minutes and 55 seconds while Celine Iranzi came second clocking 56 minutes and 42 seconds with Marie Clementine Mukandanga finishing third with 57:11:94. The provincial pre-event races are organised by Local Athletics Federation (RAF) in partnership with Ministry of Sports and Culture (MINISPOC) and Ministry of Gender and Family Promotion (MIGEPROF). The main objective is campaigning for the HeForShe movement that intends to engage men and boys as agents of change to achieve gender equality and women’s rights, talent detection and improving the awareness for this year’s Kigali International Peace marathon main event set for May 22. This weekend, the provincial race will head to Nyanza district in the Southern Province. editorial@newtimes.co.rw