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Ellina Mhlanga
Senior Sports Reporter
SOME of the Zimbabwe athletes chasing qualification to the 2023 World Athletics Championships had the opportunity to assess their progress in a competitive race when they took part in the Absa Run Your City Gqeberha 10K over the weekend, in South Africa.
The trio of Wellington Varevi, Fortunate Chidzivo and Rutendo Nyahora put up a good fight to finish in the top 10.
The best performance was from Varevi, who came sixth in the men’s category in 28minutes 7seconds.
Chidzivo managed position nine in the women’s section with a time of 34minutes 14seconds. She was followed by fellow Zimbabwean Rutendo Nyahora on position 10.
Nyahora, who is based in South Africa posted a time of 34minutes 41seconds.
Moses Tarakinyu also competed and finished on position 24 in 29minutes 13seconds in the men’s category.
They are part of athletes trying to qualify for the global meet and Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
Varevi, Chidzivo and Tarakinyu are part of the team that has been in camp in Harare since February. The camp is running until April 30.
One of the coaches that is working with the athletes, Cephas Pasipamire said the weekend’s race was a chance to gauge the athletes’ preparedness for their upcoming qualifying races.
“The times are good for a start considering the course they ran. If they can get more races like this one, it’s possible for them to get the times especially Wellington, he is close. There are Kenyans competing.
“So it’s a process, from one stage to another checking their progress and areas they still need to work on.
“Tarakinyu finished in position 24 but his time is good. He is more of a 21km runner but he is on track. If they continue getting races and support, like the support they have now, it’s possible to achieve our targets,” said Pasipamire.
The camp is being supported by the National Athletics Association of Zimbabwe and the Zimbabwe Olympic Committee.
Varevi and Tarakinyu are earmarked for 10,000m and Chidzivo is chasing qualification for marathon.
She is set to compete at the Enschede Marathon on April 16 after receiving an invitation to be part of the race.
Chidzivo is seeking qualification for both the World Championships and the Olympic Games. She is hoping to qualify at the upcoming marathon or lower her time, targeting the 2024 Olympics in case she misses the world meet.
Varevi and Tarakinyu are targeting races in May.
“For Fortunate we wanted to assess speed since she is running a marathon. It helps in terms of determining her pace for the marathon, sharpening the splits before going because for 10km you need more speed than marathon. But it gives you an idea of the pace.
“In terms of endurance she is now ready. So we are now working more on speed and splits to be able to run that marathon and try to get the qualifying time. And also we just need to make sure she does not pick an injury.
“Then the boys, they still have time. They just need to get races with a high level of competition to push them to run qualifying times,” said Pasipamire.
The other athletes in camp are Tatenda Hove and Tendai Zimuto, who have also been earmarked for future major events.
Online Reporter