Online Reporter
Lovemore Dube [email protected]
THE Cossasa Games Track and Field events started on Tuesday with all five countries fielding athletes at White City Stadium. At an event opened by the Minister of Primary and Secondary Education, Torerai Moyo on Monday, Eswatini, Lesotho, Namibia, South Africa and Zimbabwe are taking part.
The Games an annual event that cement cultural and sporting ties between the countries in the region.
School going kids get to be exposed in international sport at an early age as primary school children take part.
Sipho Khumalo, the head in charge of athletics reported no injuries in Team Zimbabwe and is hopeful of a good medal haul.
He described preparations of the event as having been smooth and on point.
In the 400m heats of the girls’ section, Bulawayo sprint star Thembelihle Ncube ran the fastest time of 55.89 in the second heat. It was the faster of the two as second placed South African Lize-Mari Ban Den Berg clocked 56.30 seconds, third placed Chane Fourie crossed the line in 56.52.
Fourie runs for South Africa.
In the first heat Zimbabwe’s Margret Mumhungaupi won in 57.71 seconds, Mienke Botha second in 59.36 and Caroline Zimbwa third in 59.96.
In the boys’ Ropa Muzondo won as expected in 47.90 seconds and Calvin Kandira second in 49.15, with the other heat going to Levi Swart of South Africa in 48.49 followed by countryman Jayden Small.
Zimbabwe medal hopeful in the boys’ 400m Muzondo is confident of scooping gold in the final.
Blessing Chizhande