‘I have really enjoyed!’ told me Ruth, a slim athlete of 46 years, already a grandmother, already a mother but never an athlete before than today.
More than 300 women at a sport event in Zambia, moreover in the bush, were never before seen. Three categories: Under 12, Under 30 and Over 30. Many known faces like Dorothy Shawa and Ruth Kapempe, champions in many Never Give Up and now too young mothers, maybe spurred on by the exceptional Esther Mweswa a fantastic second in the under 30 after giving birth in the last few months. She has won a mattress where she will rest and cuddle her baby boy. Many new faces especially among the Over 30 like Winnie Lukomba from Kabwesa, first, Lainess Lishosho, second, and Jean Zingani excellent third.
Mrs Lukomba won running bare footed and with jeans to the knee; an overwhelming grit, the stride of the unexpressed champion and an incredulous smile in front of the mountain bike she won, are the best memento of this first edition of the Sport2build Women’s Race.
About 80 women over 30 gave life to a race never before seen on Kaunda’s land: fast departure … everybody saying ‘now they will hit it’ … instead they all arrived to the end encouraged by a great spontaneous public, surprised at first by this bunch of very determined women, then even too helpful with splashes of fresh water just pumped by hand nearby.
The race started off from Mukwamba Village where Sport2build is building a school with a lot of sport, to reach Chipapa after 6 km on a tough terrain of uphills and downhills made treacherous by the rain season. At the arrival, exercise books and pencils for all the Under 12 and sanitary pads (truly appreciated) for all the others.
Guest of Honor was Headwoman Mukwamba who followed the race from the ‘team car’, our undestroyable Kia Sportage which must have been older than most participants.
After the well-deserved lunch, the cultural group from Kafue Town has entertained us with dances and drums. No streap teases but a lot of joy to be there, to have participated, produced serotonin and shared with others a special day.
Among the Under 12 Loveness Chungucha from Chaniania was faster than Mildred Kandolo from Kabwesa and Lister Hakomo from Chipapa. Chipapa team dominated the Under 30 with Silvia Malaila, Esther Mweswa and Mercy Kapempe on the podium.
Thank Associazione Progetto Jacaranda ONLUS to have made this event possible.