Online Reporter
Lovemore Dube, Zimpapers Sports Hub
ZIMBABWE’S top distance runners have just two weeks to fine-tune their form before the decisive national qualifiers for the World Cross Country Championships, set for Bindura on November 15.
The qualifiers will determine the team to represent the country at the global finals in Tallahassee, Florida, on January 10, marking the first time the United States hosts the event in nearly 30 years. The last American edition was held in Boston in 1992.
All 10 provinces are expected to field teams for the Bindura meet, which comes at a time when Zimbabwe is eager to build on the momentum of long-distance star Isaac Mpofu’s recent exploits on the international scene. The country hopes to rediscover the pedigree once shown by legends such as Zephania Ncube, Stanley Mandebele, Samukeliso Moyo and Margaret Mahohoma, who first made their names in cross-country races before shining on the track and road.
“This competition is the rejuvenation of Zimbabwe’s long-distance legacy,” said National Athletics Association of Zimbabwe (Naaz) president, Tendayi Tagara.
“We are connecting history, performance and vision, giving our athletes a gateway to the world stage. Tallahassee represents a new frontier, and Bindura is where the journey begins.”
Cross-country running is among the oldest disciplines in athletics, long predating the modern stadium era. Before tracks and lanes, athletes tested their limits against mud, wind and raw terrain, man versus nature.
Zimbabwe has its own storied history in the sport. Venues like Hillside Dams, Morris Depot, and Torwood Golf Club once hosted national finals where athletes battled slippery hills and soaked fields during the January rains, a true test of endurance before the start of the track season.
The first recognised global cross-country championship was staged in 1903, almost a decade before the founding of what is now World Athletics. Since then, the event has shaped the legacies of distance icons like Kenenisa Bekele, Paul Tergat, and Tirunesh Dibaba, who conquered the mud before conquering the Olympics.
Today, the World Cross Country Championships remain the pinnacle of off-track running, featuring men’s and women’s 10km races, junior (Under 20) categories over 6–8km, and a 4x2km mixed relay that celebrates teamwork and endurance.
While Zimbabwe has yet to claim a medal at the world championships, there have been flashes of promise. Kudakwashe Shoko and Samukeliso Moyo have previously won the Southern Region titles, with Moyo’s 10th place finish at the 1998 World Championships still standing as one of the country’s finest performances.
“Our athletes have proven they can match anyone in endurance and mental strength,” said Naaz technical director, Manuel Mpofu.
“What we’re now building is consistency, ensuring that each generation of Zimbabwean runners competes regularly at the world level. Bindura is not just about selection; it’s about preparation and readiness for Tallahassee.”
Naaz will cap the Bindura event with its annual awards ceremony, celebrating athletes who continue to carry Zimbabwe’s endurance legacy forward.
