Foreign athletes once again asserted their dominance at the 7th edition of the Légua da Beira (Beira Marathon), held on Saturday, with more than 3,000 runners from various categories taking part.

South African runner Abednico Mashaba clinched victory in the men’s category, while Zimbabwean athlete Neriah Maganzo took the top spot in the women’s race.

Mashaba successfully defended his title from the previous year, completing the 7.5-kilometre race in 21 minutes and 18 seconds. Maganzo crossed the finish line in 26 minutes and 16 seconds. Both winners received a prize of 70,000 Meticais and a medal.

Following his win, Mashaba expressed his satisfaction at retaining the title: “First of all, I’m very happy. It wasn’t easy, but I had to give my best to repeat the feat. This is my fourth consecutive win, and I’m really pleased with that. I’ve been training hard to keep winning,” he said after the race.

Mashaba’s prize money for the victory was 70,000 Meticais (approximately $1,000).

Maganzo also acknowledged the high level of competition but said she was pleased with her performance: “There was a lot of competition, but I gave it my all to win. I hope to come back and win in future editions,” she said.

Meanwhile, Jan de Vries, CEO of Cornelder de Moçambique — the event’s organiser — promised an even bigger edition next year. He highlighted the steady growth in participation over the years:

“Sport is always a good thing. We started with 1,000 runners, and now we have a significant number,” he noted, as quoted by local media.

Participants ran a 7.5-kilometre course through the city of Beira in what has become a cherished tradition. Organised annually by Cornelder de Moçambique, the event aims to strengthen ties between the port operator, its staff, and the communities surrounding the Port of Beira, the Beira Corridor, and neighbouring hinterland countries.