Maganizo, Malembo emerge winners pf the 2025 42.105km marathon

Support Battalion’s Macdonald Maganizo and Mercy Malembo emerged champions of the 42.195-kilometre marathon held in Blantyre on Saturday, November 1.

With an outstanding performance on the day, Maganizo crossed the finish line in 2:31:29, while Malembo clocked 3:05:08 to win in the women’s category.

In the men’s division, Kefasi Kesten from the Malawi Defence Force (MDF) came second with a time of 2:34:00 followed closely by Austin Sukali from Lilongwe’s Maula Prison, finishing in 2:34:38.

In the women’s category, Teleza Master finished second in 3:07:16, with Fostina Pemba taking third place in 3:07:25.

Both Maganizo and Malembo walked away with K2 million each, while the runners-up received K1.5 million, and those who finished third pocketed K1.2 million.

Organizing committee Chairperson David Pwetekani said the event went well.

“We have seen a successful event and exceptional performance from athletes. Being in November it has lived to its billing ’embrace the challenge’, so it was a successful event,” Pwetekani said.

Limbani Cliff Matola, the Malawi National Council of Sports (MNCS) director of planning, marketing and infrastructure, said: “We have seen growth in partnerships from the corporate world and only wish more can come in and support sports development.”

The event attracted elite runners from across the country and was hailed by organizers as a success.

After attending the marathon, Principle secretary in the sports ministry responsible for administration Misheck Munthali described it as a success.

Munthali said: “This was a very inclusive event. We saw veterans, women and even persons with disabilities taking part – showing us the true power of sport as a unifying element in society”

This year’s event, themed ‘Embracing the challenge’, gave athletes a run for their money in the scorching heat.