adminthis weekend.
The championships are pencilled for Saturday and Sunday in Gaborone with athletes from the Southern Africa region expected to take part in track and field events.
Team coach Njere Shumba said they are hoping to include juniors in their team since the Youth Championships, set to run at the same time with the seniors’ event, have been postponed.
The youth championships were originally scheduled for South Africa on May 25 but were moved to Botswana and were slated for this weekend but have been postponed again to a date yet to be announced.
Shumba said they were hoping to use the event to try and get more athletes qualifying for the World Junior championships.
“We are mixing seniors and some of the juniors so that they try to get the qualifying times for the World Junior championships.
“We are trying to encourage homegrown talent and we are adding about six juniors, some whom have qualified and some who are on the verge of qualifying,” said Shumba.
The five athletes who have qualified for the world championships are Yvonne Vanhuvawone, Nyasha Mutsetse, Ruvarashe Muzinde, Michael Songore and Daniel Chidavaenzi.
The National Athletics Association of Zimbabwe hope that those who have not qualified for the global event will get the times at the youth championships in Botswana.
“We are also taking those that have qualified so that they keep in shape. We are looking at sending around 27 athletes.
“My expectations are that we are going to do well and bring back a number of medals, we hope the athletes get their personal best times and qualifying times and that is the most important thing.
“They have been training with their specific coaches but we were inspecting their preparations, we were working together for their training programmes.
“We are building up to the Olympics, we have three years to prepare and this is the first stage,” said Shumba.
Team
Men: Michael Songore, Reinhard Ndhlovu, Tom Nigel, Tatenda Matesawana, Obey Banga, Nyasha Mutsetse, Elijah Mabunu, Anesu Muswai, Daniel Chidavaenzi, Trymore Kanzara, Takudzwa Muchichwa, Tapiwa Paradza, Prince Katuka, Anesu Simango, Dumezveni Ndhlovu, Presley Mabhena.
Women: Beatrice Manhla, Tsitsi Mahachi, Yvonne Vanhuvawone, Faith Manhuwa, Sithulisiwe Zhou, Maryjoy Mudyiravanji, Enlitha Ncube, Grace Jimo, Melisa Waramba, Yvonne Thomas, Bridget Sifelani.
Online Reporter