adminIt was unveiled yesterday after the weekend’s NAAZ board meeting gave it a nod.
Four provinces, namely Bulawayo, Harare, Mashonaland East and Mashonaland Central have lined up for the selection event for the championships for the inter-provincial set for 11 February at Allan Lowry Golf Course in Redcliff while the other provinces would have theirs before the nationals.
The Redcliff meet will see NAAZ assemble a team for the Southern Region Cross-Country Championships and Africa Cross-Country Championships set for Mauritius and Cape Town in South Africa respectively on 3 and 18 March.
Excelling Zimbabweans in Mauritius will stand a chance to qualify for the Cape Town Championships.
NAAZ president Joseph Mungwari said the calendar had left room for the Olympic Games preparations with expectations that German athletics expert Ralph Mouchalbahani would add value to the local sport.
“We are yet to get his confirmation on when he will be available for us,” said Mungwari.
The IAAF World Half Marathon set for Kavama, Bulgaria, is the last listed international event on 6 October.
There are a number of events on the African continent that NAAZ are eager to send athletes to.
Major events such as the 21st Movement 12 kilometres Road Race, Sunshine City, Kujatana Nkubotu Peace Half Marathon, Simon Muzenda Gutu Half Marathon and Victoria Falls Marathon are some of the regular high profile events retained on the calendar.
Meanwhile, for the first time in more than three years, Zimbabwe will play host to the Southern Region Youth Championships.
Londile Moyo
Online Reporter