admin
Innocent Kurira, Sports Reporter
THE Bulawayo Athletics Board (Bab) has heaped praise on long-distance runner Isaac Mpofu for becoming the first Zimbabwean to qualify for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
Mpofu (34) qualified with the time he ran at the 2022 Valencia Marathon that was held earlier this month, where he finished a credible 12th, with a time of two hours, six minutes, and 48 seconds.
The event fell within the qualifying window, which is between November 1, 2022 and April 30, 2024.
Bab chairperson Watson Madenyika said they are over the moon over Mpofu’s feat.
“This has really been a good year for Mpofu. As Bab, we are pleased that one of our own is making great strides in athletics. This can only be motivation for the other athletes that we have to say hard work has results that are not only recognised locally but internationally as well. Just a few weeks ago we awarded him an accolade as the best senior male athlete which he surely deserved,” said Madenyika.
Athletes will be able to qualify in two ways for the 2024 Olympic Games, with half coming through the qualification places based on achieving the entry standard for an event within the qualification period. The other way will be based on the World Athletics Ranking within the ranking period.
The qualification and ranking period for all individual events other than the 10 000m, marathon, combined events and race walks will be between July 1, 2023 and June 30, 2024.
For the 10 000m, combined events, race walks and relays, the qualification and ranking period will be between December 31, 2022 and June 30, 2024, while for the marathon the period will be between November 1, 2022 and 30 April 2024.
All performances must be achieved during competitions organised or authorised by World Athletics, its area associations, or its national federations in accordance with its rules and published on the World Athletics Global Calendar. — @innocentskizoe
derick.khumalo