adminThe Delta Beverages-sponsored Four-Minute-Mile will be held on 28 April at the ZITF Main Arena.
Already, 12 athletes have qualified for the final.
In a telephone interview from Hwange yesterday, BAB secretary-general Dailes Bingadadi said the Hwange trials were meant to afford athletes from Matabeleland
North who could not make it to qualifying competitions in Bulawayo and Kwekwe an opportunity to make it for the finals.
“Tomorrow we will hold trials for the ZITF Four-Minute-Mile at the Colliery Stadium. Most of Matabeleland North athletes are based in Hwange and we are taking advantage of the Paralympic Games which as custodians of athletics we believe we would have done a disservice if we let this opportunity slip. We have spoken to the local organising committee to spare us five minutes so that we hold these trials.
“The qualifying time for the ZITF Delta Beverages Four-Minute-Mile race is four minutes 31 seconds. Those who run within this time proceed to the finals. All athletes who want to compete in the final will have to go through qualifiers or else they will miss out,” said Bingadadi.
Kadoma’s Jacob Mugomeri was the first athlete to qualify for ZITF during trials that were held at the Mashonaland West Track and Field competition in February.
The other athletes that have qualified for this year’s race are Kelvin Gundani of Ziscosteel, his clubmate Ngonidzashe Ncube, Rodney Gumbo of Shamva, ZPS duo of James Gwasira and Nomore Wiriki and Harare Tigers’ Moses Njodzi and Blessmore Chidziva.
Trust Chidamaya of Unit Fairbridge, Isaac Mpofu, Simbarashe Taderera and Ubert Dube also qualified for the final during the first Bulawayo trials held at the ZITF Main Arena a fortnight ago.
Bingadadi said athletes who want to familiarise themselves with the ZITF Main Arena course would have to turn up for the Sunday trials.
“The Sunday trials at ZITF will be the last before the final. We expect a bigger turnout as some athletes will want to familiarise themselves with the track,” said Bingadadi.
Sparrows Athletics Club’s Trust Hove won last year’s edition in four minutes 21.22 seconds and took home $500.
Delta Beverages have maintained last year’s sponsorship package that will see the winner take home $500, $400 for first runner-up, $350 for third place with the fourth getting $300 while the fifth athlete will get $250. There will be $200, $150, $100, $50, $25 for sixth to 10th placed athletes.
The winner will also get a medal with all participants getting T-shirts and Delta Beverages-sponsored kit.
Online Reporter