Chronicle Editor
Harare Bureau
ATHLETICS coach Zibusiso Nyoni, who is set to lead the Zimbabwe team at the World Athletics Under-20 Championships due to take place from August 17-22 in Kenya, has said they remain positive despite limited training and lack of competition.
The National Athletics Association of Zimbabwe (NAAZ) is expecting to field Clinton Muunga from Matabeleland South and Harare-based Samukeliso Ndebele at the meet to take place in Nairobi.
Muunga ran qualifying times in 100m and 200m, while Ndebele posted a qualifying time in 200m.
Nyoni said he has been working with the athletes’ individual coaches since they have been training at their respective bases.
“This has been a difficult time because of Covid-19. I mostly communicate with the coaches on the ground, who are constantly with the athletes. But we are doing our best. We are working on some endurance, especially for Clinton, who is entered for two events, the 100m and 200m. We also have some gym work to work on their strengths and leg explosiveness. We are working on their general body stability,” said Nyoni.
Muunga clocked 10.46 seconds in 100m, and 21.21 seconds in the 200m, while Ndebele ran 23.30 seconds in the women’s 200m.
The qualifying time for the junior men 100m is 10.58 seconds and 21.38 seconds in the 200m.
For junior women, the 100m qualifying time is 11.85 seconds and for 200m it’s 24.35 seconds.
“The Covid-19 pandemic has really affected our preparations because as soon as the athletes qualified, all competitions were suspended locally, so in actual fact they are lacking race practice to a larger extent.
“There was need for two or so races before the major championship. Now it’s going to be a do-or-die situation in their first-round races. I have no doubt they will sail through the first-round owing to their times locally. Mentally they are ready and pumped up to go and do according to expectations,” said Nyoni.
Online Reporter