Online Reporter
Innocent Kurira, [email protected]
THERE are few fixtures on Zimbabwe’s athletics calendar that carry both tradition and promise quite like the Payne-Mdhlongwa Cadets, Youths, Juniors and Seniors Track and Field Championships and once again, White City Stadium in Bulawayo is set to become the heartbeat of the country’s track and field fraternity on 27 June.
Year after year, this one-day gathering has grown into more than just a competition. It has become a meeting point of generations, where raw talent collides with the discipline of seasoned athletes, and where future champions often first announce themselves in Bulawayo.
Organised by the Bulawayo Athletics Board (BAB) in partnership with Payne and Mdhlongwa, the 2026 edition is expected to once again draw athletes from across Zimbabwe, representing clubs, schools, colleges and athletics institutions. All roads lead to White City, where talent will be measured not by reputation, but by performance on the track and in the field.
The action will begin at 8am, with a full programme that captures the breadth of athletics competition — from explosive sprints to endurance tests and technical field events that demand precision under pressure. Athletes will compete in the 100m, 200m, 400m, 800m, 1 500m, 3 000m and 5 000m races, alongside hurdles, relays, long jump, triple jump, high jump, shot put, discus and javelin.
More than just a race against the clock or a battle against distance, the championships arrive at a crucial moment in the season.
For many athletes, this is a chance to sharpen form following the Southern Region Athletics Championships in Mauritius, while others see it as a gateway into national selection conversations that could shape their competitive futures.
For the Bulawayo Athletics Board, the event continues to represent one of the most important pillars of the development pathway in Zimbabwean athletics.
“The Payne-Mdhlongwa Championships have become one of the most important competitions on our athletics calendar. They provide young athletes with an opportunity to compete against quality opposition while giving coaches and selectors a chance to assess emerging talent,” said BAB chairman Watson Madanyika.
It is this blend of youth and experience, of discovery and refinement that has made the championships a respected fixture beyond Bulawayo. Madanyika believes the event captures the essence of what athletics development should look like in Zimbabwe.
“Bulawayo has always been a stronghold of athletics excellence in Zimbabwe. We are proud to host a championship that brings together cadets, youths, juniors and seniors under one roof. This creates a pathway for young athletes to learn from experienced competitors and understand what it takes to perform at higher levels.”
Beyond the competition itself lies a deeper ambition; the consistent nurturing of talent that can carry Zimbabwe forward on regional, continental and global stages.
“Zimbabwe continues to produce exceptional talent, but talent must be nurtured through consistent competition. Events like these are where future national champions, regional medalists and international stars are discovered. We encourage schools, clubs and communities to support their athletes and come witness the future of Zimbabwean athletics.”
White City Stadium, with its history of hosting major national and regional events, once again provides the fitting backdrop, a venue where careers are shaped, records are tested and reputations are born.
