adminSikhumbuzo Moyo Senior Sports Reporter
FORGOTTEN Tsholotsho based female long distance runner Brenda Banda returns to the track this afternoon for the first time since 2009 when she competes in the inter-provincial championships at the National University of Science and Technology tartan track in Bulawayo.
She will compete in the 1,500m and according to her, possibly the 800m as well.
Banda took the athletics world by storm during the inaugural Zimbabwe National Youth Games which were held in Bulawayo with telling performances in the 3,000m race that won her and her province Matabeleland North, medals.
“I just want to give it a try and check on my times as well and then improve from there. I started training last month,” said Banda, who has since formed an athletics club in Jimila area under Tsholotsho district.
She uses Jimila High School grounds for training.
The 26-year-old Banda said she is used to road races and half marathons with her personal best time in the half marathon being one hour 20 minutes.
The weekend athletics meet will be used as a qualifier for the World Junior Championships and African Senior Championships which are set for Morocco later this year.
Organisers of the race have gone out of their way to source an electronic timer and a wind gauge — both pre-requisites for the times and jumps to be ratified as good enough for other events.
“It is an honour to keep hosting such big events, we are challenging people to come in numbers and support this championship so that we keep the fire burning in the city in preparation for the Region Five Youth Games.
“The stage is set, we are just waiting for the weekend for the action packed event to start,” said Emmanuel Mpofu, the Bulawayo Athletics Board chairman.
The event will have an international flavour with Namibian sprinter Ernest Narib expected to spice up the event. He is set to face off with US-based Reinard Ndlovu and has a personal best time of 46.12 seconds in the 400m.
Other notable 400m runners are Nigel Tom and Conias Mudzingwa.
Tendai Zimuto, Maryjoy Mudyiravanji, Isaac Mpofu, Yvonne Vhanuvaone, Andile Khumalo and Cuthbert Nyasango are some of the top athletes excepted to grace the occasion.
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