Rwanda’s long distance runner Jean Pierre Mvuyekure won a bronze medal in the IAAF Road Race over the weekend in Pyongyang, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK).
Mvuyekure finished third in the marathon race which was won by Ethiopia’s Negassa Ketema Bekele.
The 25th Mangyongdae Prize Marathon, an IAAF Bronze Label Road Race, was run in Pyongyang, the capital of People’s Republic of Korea.
Mvuyekure clocked 2 hours, 13 minutes and 19 seconds to finish third in the marathon race which was won by Ethiopia’s Negassa Ketema Bekele.
Ukraine’s Matvichuk Oleksandr finished second in 2 hours, 13 minutes and 14 seconds.
Besides winning the silver bronze medal, Mvuyekure bagged US$2500 [about Rwf1.5 million] in prize and in the process attained the minimum qualification of 2 hours and 17 minutes to qualify for the World Athletics Championships which will be held in Moscow Russia from August 10-18.
Mvuyekure joins compatriot Robert Kajuga, who had already secured qualification for the World Athletics Championships after getting the minimum requirements in last year’s London Olympic Games.
Another Rwandan, Frederick Habakurama finished in 14th position after clocking 2 hours and 20 minutes. Habakurama also beat the minimum qualifications of 2 hours and 25 minutes to qualify for the Francophone Games in September in Nice, France.
1. Negassa Ketema Bekele [Eth] 02:13:03
2. Matvichuk Oleksandr [Ukr] 02:13:14
3. J.P Mvuyekure [Rwa] 02:13:19
14. F. Habakurama [Rwa] 02:20:00
By Bonnie Mugabe, The New Times
