adminSikhumbuzo Moyo Senior Sports Reporter
IN a bid to fully prepare athletes ahead of the forthcoming continental and regional competitions, the Bulawayo Athletics Board has come up with an ambitious competition that will zero in on eight key races.The track and field athletics competition to be known as the Super Eight, is set to be held at the end of this month at White City Stadium.
Eight individual races have been chosen, starting with track events, 100m, 200m, 400m, 800, 1,500m and the three field events, namely high jump, long jump and triple jump. The Under-20 athletes will compete in these events only.
“We believe with intensive training and competition, we will stand a big chance of getting medals from these events when we send our athletes to the African Youth Games in Botswana in May which will also be used as a selection event for the Youth Olympics Games slated for China in August,” said the Bulawayo Athletics Board chairman Emmanuel Mpofu.
He added: “Remember we are also playing host to the African Union Region Five Games in December. It is our belief that by the time we get there, our athletes will be ready”.
BAB has been on a steady rise in terms of administration in the last two years compared to the previous dormant years where events were either cancelled or not held at all due to disunity and disorganisation.
Mpofu said they would not hold the Super Eight event just for the sake of it but would make sure that competitors record set times and heights or even better those that saw athletes winning medals in previous competitions, especially the Region Five Games, then Zone Six, which were held in Zambia.
“It’s going to be a high intensity competition that will also be more like a training camp as we gear up to take the country to expected athletics standards not only in the region but internationally as well,” he said.
Some of the athletes that are expected to make the grade include the Sparrows contingent of Linety Furera, Faith Moyo, Moreen Gumbo and 17-year-old track queen Yvonne Vanhuvaone. Andile Khumalo is another hopeful in the boys’ category.
Meanwhile, the Zimbabwean team for the Youth Olympics in China has already been selected although they have to first qualify through the Botswana meet.
Girls team:
Enlita Ncube 3,000m, Shylet Chaora 800m, Yvonne Vanhuvaone 400m, Maryjoy Mudyavanji 1,500m, Tapiwa Chitsanga shot putt, Nomagugu Ndlovu triple jump, Niama Dube 100m and 200m, Muchaneta Luka long jump.
Boys team:
Titus Nyathi 3,000m, Joseph Kungaruna 1,500m, Tinashe Gambe 800m, Tapera Tinotenda 100m, Tawanda Tembo 400m, Tafadzwa Mutariswa 100m and 200m, Robin Chitsato 100m and 200m, Munyaradzi Rutsate 100m and 200m, Shingirai Dlahuyo long jump and 100m.
Online Reporter