adminEllina Mhlanga Sports Reporter
ATHLETICS coach Watson Madenyika has hailed the cross-country team that took part in the Southern Africa Region Championships in Blantyre, Malawi, on Saturday after scooping four medals.
Zimbabwe fielded a 16-member team made up of senior men and women and junior men and women.
The team scooped a gold medal in the senior women through Olivia Chitate while Constance Nyasango settled for silver in the same category.
Jacob Mugomeri weighed in with another silver medal in the senior men section and Conscious Hwenjere got bronze in the junior men. The performance saw Zimbabwe finishing second behind Malawi.
The other members of the team were Munyaradzi Jari, Nkosiyazi Sibanda, Wyson Blessing, Tendai Zimuto and Gilbert Mutandiro in the senior men. The senior women team featured Chitate and Constance Nyasango.
The other two athletes — Patience Murove and Caroline Mhandu — failed to travel because they did not have travelling documents.
Hwenjere led the junior men’s team, which included Hlalani Ngwenya, Titus Nyathi and Bismark Ndlovu, while Enlitha Ncube, Tariro Madzivire, Annah Bungu and Marian Pfumbidza competed in the junior women category.
“It went well, the competition was tough but we managed to scoop four medals. Olivia Chitate scooped gold in the senior women,” said Madenyika.
“Conscious Hwenjere did quite well and it was impressive because from the juniors’ side he is the only who got a medal.
“He is just a 17-year-old boy from Marondera and I am sure as time goes on he is a promising athlete.
“The likes of Enlitha and Titus Nyathi, their performance was not that good but all in all the team did well.
“Maybe, the issue of camping came into play, if we had managed to camp we could have performed better.
“The junior girls lacked endurance, these girls are international athletes so we expect much from them and next week they are leaving for Ethiopia.”
Chitate, Nyasango and Mugomeri are now expected to represent the country in the World Championships scheduled for next month in China.
Other countries that took part in the regional event include Botswana, Namibia, South Africa and the hosts.
Online Reporter