Chronicle Editor
Innocent Kurira , Sports Reporter
BULAWAYO Athletics Board (Bab) chairperson Watson Madanyika expects an increase in the number of takers for the Coca-Cola Four-Minute Mile Challenge qualifiers scheduled for this weekend.
The weekend’s first qualifying event will be at the National Sports Stadium B-Arena tomorrow before another qualifier at White City Stadium in Bulawayo the next day.
“We have a series of qualifiers coming up as the day of the final approaches. After the two weekend events, we will proceed to Bindura on April 22. Prior to that, we will have our traditional Independence Day qualifier at White City Stadium on Independence Day.
“We are still to confirm if we will head to Gwanda or we will have athletes from that side coming for the qualifiers in Bulawayo.
We expect strong fields in all these events and an increase in the number of those that will make the final,” said Madanyika.
The Coca-Cola Four-Minute Mile Challenge is an annual men’s competition with a pre-requisite time of four minutes 31 seconds for one to qualify for the final.
The final takes place at Zimbabwe International Trade Fair (ZITF) Main Area on the last day of the trade showcase.
Nine athletes have so far qualified for the semi-finals which can be foregone if few athletes make it past the initial qualifiers.
Munyaradzi Zizhou and Mthokozisi Mhlanga, both from Blanket Mine were the first to qualify at a meet held in Bulawayo.
The other athletes who qualified from an event in Harare are Nyasha Mutsetse who managed a time of four minutes, 20 seconds while Levison Mapfuwa finished in four minutes, 21 seconds.
Nomore Wiriki had a time of four minutes, 23 seconds with Trust Hove crossing the line after four minutes, 24 seconds and Godwin Katakura was not far behind with a time of four minutes 25 seconds.
The Black Rhinos duo of Munashe Mundure and Bornface Jeki complete the list of those that made it to the semi-finals with the times of four minutes 27 seconds and four minutes 30 seconds respectively.
Wellington Varevi came out tops last year. It was the third time for Varevi to win the race after he did so in 2014 when he was just 20 years old and 2018 at the age of 24.
The 28-year-old crossed the finish line in a time of four minutes, 13,64 seconds, Nyasha Mutsetse was second in four minutes, 14,31 seconds and Nomore Wiriki was third in four minutes, 14,87 seconds.
Katakura went into the race with the best qualifying time of four minutes, 10.66 seconds but could only settle for fourth place in four minutes, 15,28 seconds. Varevi took home a shield, gold medal, miniature trophy and ZWL$112 000. Mutsetse’s reward was ZWL$56 000, Wiriki pocketed ZWL$49 000 while Katakura went home ZWL$42 000 richer.
The race is sponsored by Coca-Cola and its bottling partners in Zimbabwe, Delta Beverages. – @innocentskizoe.
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