dyton mupawaenda
H-Metro Reporter
ATHLETICS coach, Khumbulani Dube, believes Zimbabwean athletes, Tapiwanashe Makarawu and Makanakaishe Charamba, will add to a strong African contingent at the Paris Olympics.
The Zimbabwean athletes are among the world’s top eight sprinters in the 200m
With the United States collegiate finals and season over, athletes based there would have to be managed so that they stay active.
Dube, a Kenya trained athletics coach and former Keip Keno Athletics Club of Gwanda athlete, is wary of favourite Noah Lyles of the United States in the 200m dash.
“Noah Lyles, the main protagonist, has kept his gun powder dry. He doesn’t make the top 10 fastest list this year,” said Dube.
“His most likely teammate, young Erriyon Knighton, has opted to do the same.
“The top two active athletes are missing out of the top 10 this year.”
Dube believes the 200m will be exciting because of the surprise elements he has seen in a number of African athletes who are rating highly in the 200m lists.
“The 100m is still pretty much anyone’s event but the 200m will be much more exciting,” said Dube.
He tipped Letsile Tebogo of Botswana and Makarawu to make a top five if their fitness levels and focus are managed well.
“They are adding to the strongest 200m African representation ever to grace the Olympics with five from the continent in the top 10 list of which Southern Africa has three,” said Dube.
Dube, who specialised in the long and middle distance in his coach education in Kenya, believes marathon runner Isaac Mpofu has what it takes to make the top five or even better this year.
Mpofu finished third in March in the African Games and sixth in the Boston Marathon last month against world class fields in both events.
“If conditions permit, we might have more than one national record at the Olympics,” Dube said.
Online Reporter