A bar too high to reach

ZIMBABWE’s team manager to the recent IAAF World Youth Championships in Colombia Aneas Nhoro reckons the level of competition at the showcase was beyond the country’s three-member team.

Three of the country’s most promising athletes — Enlitha Ncube (800m), Nomatter Kapfudzaruwa (400m) and Tinotenda Matiyenga (200m) — came back from the world championships empty-handed.

Only Matiyenga had something to smile about after posting a personal best time of 21.93 seconds.

However, such was the level of competition that Matiyenga’s best time could not secure him a place in the semi-finals.

“Our athletes ran well, but to be honest the competition standard was too high for us,” said Nhoro.

“We really need continuity in our sports as well as qualified people to train these kids from a very young age of four or five because we cannot continue relying on natural talent.

“In the case of our athletes in Colombia, jet-lag might have also affected their performances as we travelled 11 hours from here to Amsterdam followed by another 10 or 11 hours to Panama City before an hour and a half’s flight to Cali. And they had only one day of rest, hence some raced with swollen feet.”

First to take to the track was 17-year-old Kapfudzaruwa, who raced her 400m in 59.40 seconds, a distance from her best time of 56.20 seconds, to finish in fifth position.

On the second day of the event, Ncube (17) completed 800m in 2.19 minutes, slower than her best time of 2.12 minutes, to finish in seventh position.

Sixteen–year-old Matiyenga followed and put up a commendable effort as he achieved his personal best time and finished in seventh position. His previous best time was 22.24 seconds.

“Of course, I am disappointed that I didn’t get a medal or didn’t qualify for the semi-finals, but achieving my best time at such an event was a good thing,” said Matiyenga.

“I don’t think the standard was too high for us; we didn’t really prepare well and also we didn’t travel with a coach.

“I wasn’t really afraid of the competition. In the future, I want to bring medals home,” added the Prince Edward student.