Online Reporter
Lovemore Dube
THE Bulawayo Metropolitan Province National Association of Secondary Schools Track and Field Championships sponsored by Bakers Inn kicked off at White City Stadium yesterday with fierce competition.
Athletes battled it out in both track and field events for a place in the team to take part in the national championships set for Chipadze Stadium at the end of this month.
Sikhumbuzo Ndlovu, the head in charge of athletics in Bulawayo is happy and looking forward to a better outing than the eighth position attained in Victoria Falls last year.
Ndlovu said unlike last year where they took a large contingent of athletes, this year they will go for quality and take only those that they think measure to national standards. Last year every event had an athlete.
“We learnt a lesson from last year’s championships. Instead of two or three buses this year if it means traveling in a Dyna Coaster with medal hopefuls we will do so, we are strict with our selection processes, we do not want to disappoint,” said Ndlovu whose province was catered well for by Bakers Inn.
Instead of the usual hall or classroom sleeping, Bulawayo Province athletes slept at a hotel and even had the opportunity to visit the Falls, a rarity for school teams.
Sobukhazi sprinter Methembe Tshuma running for Reigate fired warning shots with gold in the boys’ Under-20 100m dash in a competitive time of 10.46 seconds. He was chased to the finishing line by a determined Makhosi Sibanda of Magwegwe High School which is under Mzilikazi District. Sibanda was home in 10.64 seconds with Prince Moyo third in 10.84 seconds.
Tshuma attested to his growing reputation as the boy to beat this year in the province when he ran the fastest 200m in 21.52 seconds in the semi-finals but his effort was even better than Sibanda’s 22.21 in the other semi-final group.
Moyo seemingly set to give the duo the toughest competition this season ran the 200m in 22.46 seconds.
The talented Moyo had the fastest 400m time of 49.05 seconds while Brendon Ndlovu of Magwegwe and Mzilikazi District was second best in 49.47 seconds.
Angeline Mkratirwa of Nkulumane and Mzilikazi District was first in the girls’ Under-20 100m in 12.77 seconds with REigate’s Rejoice Dlodlo of Northlea High School second in a decent 13.01 seconds.
Remoneiloe restored pride for the Eastern Suburbs schools finishing third in 13.19 seconds.
Raymond Maqethuka Dube, the Bakers Inn sales and distribution manager was impressed with the turn out by fans and competition exhibited by the pupils.
He confirmed that they are sponsoring the two-day event and that they will foot the team’s bill to Bindura with the most outstanding athletes to receive cash incentives on return.
