All set for HAB track and field champs

Ellina Mhlanga Senior Sports Reporter

ALL is set for the Harare Athletic Board track and field championships due to take place tomorrow at the National Sports Stadium B Arena.

Some of the events on offer include 100m, 200m, 400m, 800m, 1500m, 5000m, 4x100m relay, 4x400m relay, triple jump, high jump, long jump, discus, shot put and javelin.

Harare province coaches’ coordinator Collen Makaza said with the season just starting most of the athletes and coaches take advantage of such events to assess their preparedness for the season.

“This is being used as a preparation event for NAPH and NASH schools’ competitions as well.

“It’s also for us coaches to assess our athletes, those preparing for African Games and international events. So it’s an opportunity for people to assess their strength, weaknesses, as they build up for major competitions.

“We are expecting most of the sprinters to take part. Most of the athletes are coming from schools,” said Makaza.

Some of the athletes that are set to take part include Wellington Varevi, who won the HAB cross country last Sunday at Allan Wilson School.

“I am running 5000m and 1500m. Just like the cross country, I am using it as part of preparation for major competitions I am hoping to compete in, such as the African Games. I am hoping to make the final team.

“I am also targeting the World Cross Country and the South Africa Championships 21km,” said Varevi.

The meet is open to athletes from other provinces and schools such as Goromonzi High School and Kutama College have expressed interest to be part of tomorrow’s competition.

Bindura University of Science and Technology are also expected to field a team.

HAB secretary general, Sledge Chinyoka said the event looks promising considering the response they have had based on the entries.

“Basically I think the response has been very enormous, we have close to 215 athletes that have entered for the event. We had closed entries on Wednesday but people are still showing interest.

“The good thing is in the juniors’ category, we have attracted schools from outside Harare. We have Goromonzi, Chipadze, they will also be sending athletes.

“The most important thing is to create the opportunity for athletes to participate and coaches to assess their athletes. So we might have a waiver for a few athletes to enter the competition because it’s about development,” said Chinyoka.

Some of the senior athletes expected to take part include sprinters Ngoni Makusha and Dickson Kamungeremu.

They were part of the 4x100m relay team that won bronze at the Africa Senior Championships in 2022.

“We are expecting high level of competition at the championships and also new surprises as there are new talented athletes coming up. It’s probably the first track and field event and people are eager,” said Chinyoka.