BAB to select provincial team

Innocent Kurira

THE Bulawayo Athletics Board (Bab) will use the third leg of the Baldmin Holdings Triangular Series Costar Takawira Challenge as their final selection meet for the provincial team that will compete at the inter-provincials set for Harare.

The third leg of the track and field third leg is set for White City Stadium on May 27, with the National Sports Stadium set to play host to the inter-provincials on June 3.

Bab chairperson Watson Madanyika called on clubs, schools, and tertiary institutions to bring in athletes for the Triangular Series which will have incentives for podium finishers.

“Preparations for the Triangular Series are well on course. The news that should excite athletes is podium finishers will also be getting rewards for their efforts. The first prize is US$20, US$15 for second place and US$10 for the person who finishes third.

“The incentives should serve as motivation for our athletes to give their best. We will be using the event to select our provincial team for the inter-provincial championships set for June 3.

“We are hoping to send our strongest team for the national competition,” said Madanyika.

The first leg of the triangular series that was held last month in Bindura was called the Artwell Mandaza triangular series. This leg will rotate every year with other provinces having a chance to host it as a way of developing the sport code.

The second and third legs would be held in Harare and Bulawayo permanently and would carry international qualifying times.

The Harare leg would be named after Robert Mutsauki, a former athlete and distinguished administrator, and former Naaz and Zimbabwe Olympic Committee president.

The Bulawayo leg would be named after the sponsor Costar Takawira, who is also the Baldmin Holdings Managing Director.

Takawira is a former runner, who is passionate about the sport and is now giving back to the community.

At the third leg, participants will compete in track events which include 100m, 100m hurdles, 110m hurdles, 400m, 800m, 1 500m and 10 000m with field events being high jump, triple jump and discus.

Entry fees for each event have been pegged at US$2 OR 3000RTGS per athlete and can be paid through Ecocash Merchant Code 021891 or the Bab offices at White City Stadium.

-@innocentskizoe.