Bulawayo counts on first events at athletics nationals

CAIN Ncube, the headmaster overseeing athletics in the Bulawayo Metropolitan Province’s secondary schools sport, believes the opening events at the Prince Edward High School National Championships on Wednesday will shape the province’s overall performance.

Ncube took charge of the code last year, at a time when Bulawayo and Matabeleland North had appeared entrenched as tail-enders in the National Association of Secondary School Heads Track and Field Championships.

Among his early reforms was the introduction of three championship meetings prior to the nationals. These were designed to keep athletes active for longer and give both school and club competitors the chance to build track fitness ahead of the schools’ national championships.

Phakamile Ndlovu, a 5 000m and 10 000m runner from Magwegwe High School, will be the first athlete on track on Wednesday morning in the longer race.

“We keep our fingers crossed. He is our hope, and should he do well in the 10 000m, the first event of the competition, he will have given us a big morale booster. He is a good athlete who we are counting on to raise the spirits of the team,” said Ncube yesterday.

After the 25-lap event, the 100m sprints will follow. Ncube said these would also be pivotal to Bulawayo’s medal ambitions.

“How we perform in the 100m will define the medal count at the end. We are hoping, judging from our preparations, that we pick one or two gold medals from the 100m even the 400m, thereafter we may pick up here and there. We are aware of the expectations on us as always, and we have given preparations the best shot with no camp allowing athletes to fine-tune with their coaches,” said Ncube.

The meets Ncube organised from December may have given Bulawayo Province an edge this time. Previously, athletes only competed at cluster, inter-cluster and provincial finals — insufficient, he felt, to fully polish performances — while teams such as Harare enjoyed a busier competition calendar to sharpen up.

Bulawayo concluded preparations on Saturday, with athletes taking a day off yesterday.
Ncube said Harare, the Midlands and Matabeleland South — who have been in camp for over a week — pose the biggest threat.

“They have prepared for the championships well with camps. They will be the teams to beat, but I believe we will pick up some medals, a tally higher than last year would be a good tribute to everyone’s hard work in Bulawayo Province,” said the Sobukhazi headmaster.