Online Reporter
Lovemore Dube, [email protected]
WHITE City Stadium on Saturday provided a perfect stage for Bulawayo and surrounding provinces to showcase their best talents ahead of two key athletics championships.
Some schools used the event to polish up their athletes ahead of the National Association of Secondary School Heads Championships to be held in Harare on March 25-26.
But it was a test of character, preparing for the usually exciting Inter-Provincial Championships to be held at the University of Zimbabwe Track on April 25-26.
Saturday’s event was held under the theme: “This Is Your Moment.”
Bulawayo’s athletics community came alive in spectacular fashion at White City Stadium as the Naaz Junior Championships produced a rich display of speed, endurance, technique, power and promise across the track and field disciplines.
From the explosive sprints to the punishing distance races, from the technical hurdles to the competitive field events, the championships confirmed one thing beyond doubt: Zimbabwe’s athletics future is bright, competitive and increasingly disciplined across all events. Athletes from schools, clubs and independent institutions rose to the occasion with outstanding performances, while coaches, officials and athletics administrators witnessed a competition that not only celebrated winners but also revealed the next wave of talent ready for the national stage.
Bulawayo National Athletics Association of Zimbabwe boss Watson Madenyika hailed the championships as an encouraging sign of progress in junior athletics development.
“What we witnessed at White City Stadium was not just competition, but the growth of athletics in action. The quality of performances across the disciplines was highly encouraging, and it shows that our young athletes are responding well to training, structure and opportunity. Bulawayo remains committed to developing athletes who can compete with confidence at provincial, national and international levels.
As we now look ahead to the Inter-Provincial Championships at the University of Zimbabwe on April 25
and 26, our message to every athlete is clear — this is your moment.”
Madenyika added that the championships demonstrated the depth beginning to emerge in schools and clubs.
“We are seeing exciting depth in sprinting, middle-distance, long-distance and field events. That is exactly what Zimbabwean athletics needs. The objective is not only to produce one or two stars, but to build a broad, competitive base of talent. These championships have given us that hope and that confidence.”
Sprint events lit up White City.
The sprint programme delivered some of the most electric moments of the day, with athletes showing sharp acceleration, strong top-end speed and fierce competitive instincts.
In the girls’ 100m final, Silindweyinkosi Sibanda of Nash stormed to victory in 12,65 seconds, ahead of the ever-impressive Ruvarashe Nyika of Sacred Heart, who clocked 12,87.
Nyika, however, would not be denied her signature moment. She returned in sensational fashion to win the girls’ 200m final in a brilliant 24,40 seconds, underlining her class as one of the standout performers of the entire championships.
Her victory was decisive and polished, marking her out as one of the athletes to watch closely going into the April event.
In the boys’ 100m final, Cryson Kunorubwe of Sacred Heart produced one of the fastest performances of the meet, taking the title in 10,42 seconds. It was a commanding run from an athlete who also proved his dominance in the longer sprint. Kunorubwe came back to claim the boys’ 200m title in 21,15 seconds, narrowly ahead of Andile Hleza of Nash, who ran 21,18, in one of the most competitive and thrilling finishes of the day.
The sprint disciplines therefore, told a compelling story: among the girls, Nyika stamped her authority; among the boys, Kunorubwe emerged as one of the day’s biggest stars with a brilliant sprint double.
400m races revealed courage, control and class.
The one-lap races were equally captivating, demanding not only speed but race intelligence, strength and composure in the closing metres.
In the girls’ 400m final, Thembelihle Ncube of Nash delivered a superb performance to take gold in 56,26 seconds, a winning time that reflected both class and ambition. Behind her, Nyika continued her remarkable day by taking second in 61,46, reinforcing her status as one of the championship’s most versatile and durable performers.
The boys’ 400m final was another high-quality contest. Tawananyasha Mukarati of Nash claimed victory in 48,68 seconds, holding off a competitive field in a race stacked with talent. Prince Moyo followed in 49,40, while Jabulani Ngwenya of Lobengula came third in 49,71. The men’s one-lap event demonstrated very healthy depth, with multiple athletes dipping under or close to the 50-second mark.
Middle-distance events show tactical maturity
The middle-distance races confirmed that Bulawayo and surrounding institutions continue to nurture athletes with endurance, pacing discipline and tactical awareness.
In the girls’ 800m final, Nkosinothabo Ngwenya of Pure Speed claimed victory in 2:22.32, just edging Purity Kusarakwatsenga of GDAC, who finished in 2:22.80. It was a closely fought contest that showed impressive stamina and judgment.
Ngwenya had already made a mark in the girls’ 1 500m final, where she won in 4:59.50, narrowly ahead of Patience Zhou Chihora of Alpha, who clocked 4:59.88. That race stood out as one of the tightest and most absorbing distance contests of the day, with both athletes showing excellent rhythm and resilience.
In the boys’ 800m final, Michael Jonas of GDAC controlled matters well to win in 1:59.94, breaking the two-minute barrier and setting a strong benchmark for the next level of competition. He was followed by Brendon Dube of Moe’s Striders in 2:00.55 and Methembe Ndlovu of Masotsha in 2:01.86, making it a particularly strong final.
The boys’ 1 500m title went to Jackson Nyamazana of Mwenezi, who crossed first in 4:10.57, ahead of Michael Jonas, who once again proved his endurance credentials with second place in 4:11.12.
Long-distance runners grind out memorable wins
The long-distance programme was a celebration of grit, pacing and mental strength.
In the girls’ 3 000m final, Lwaano Sibanda of Binga Academy produced a strong run to win in 10:39.09, ahead of teammate Audrey Muzamba, who finished in 10:58.68. Binga Academy’s one-two finish in that race underlined the school’s growing reputation in endurance events.
The girls’ 5 000m final was won by Tulange Mudenda of Binga Academy in 18:28.15, further extending Binga’s stronghold in distance running. Her victory was a statement of endurance and consistency.
On the boys’ side, Bongani Mpofu of Nash won the 3 000m final in 9:11.57, while Phakamile Ndlovu of Nash took the 5 000m title in 14:35.78 after an extremely close duel with Brave Moyo of GDAC, who recorded 14:35.80. That tiny margin was one of the most dramatic outcomes of the entire championships and showed just how fiercely contested the longer races were.
Hurdlers display rhythm and technical sharpness
The hurdles programme rewarded athletes who could combine speed, rhythm and technical control.
In the girls’ 100m hurdles final, Rejoice Dhlodhlo of Northlea High took gold in 16,41, holding off Tamia Mpofu of Nash and Shelfa Chigova of Mpopoma, both of whom were given 17,94. Dhlodhlo’s run was clean and commanding, and she will be one to watch in April.
The boys’ 110m hurdles final was won by Akim Mpofu of Somvubu in 15,35, with Calvin Ncube of Gifford/Gables second in 15,65 and Denzel Lungu of Sacred Heart third in 15,93. It was a good-quality final and evidence that hurdling standards are steadily strengthening.
In the longer hurdles, Thubalami Moyo of Nash won the girls’ 400m hurdles in 65,84, while Trust Muunga of Nash took the boys’ 400m hurdles in 53,87, beating Akim Mpofu into second. Nash’s strength in these technical events was especially noticeable.
Field events produce strong technical performances
Away from the track, the field events delivered their own share of excellence and revealed athletes with strong potential in the jumps and throws.
In the boys’ high jump, Aleck Vhovha of Nash cleared 1.85m to take the title, ahead of Romeo Ncube, also of Nash, on 1,82m. Nash’s dominance in the vertical jumps was unmistakable.
The girls’ high jump crown went to Azile Tshuma of Nash, who cleared 1.64m, again underlining the school’s depth in technical events.
In the horizontal jumps, Mandisa Ncube of Mavela High won the boys’ triple jump in 13,84m, while the boys’ long jump produced a nail-biting finish as Brandly Hamoonga of HOC won with 6,42m, just one centimetre ahead of Tanatswa Mugwidi of Nkulumane on 6,41m. That contest was among the most dramatic in the field programme.
The girls’ long jump was won by Ntokozo Mpofu of Somvubu with 4,52m, while the throws also saw notable performances.
In the boys’ javelin, Mthandazo Dube of Kip Keino threw 48,65m to secure first place, one of the strongest field marks of the championships. The girls’ javelin was won by Nomthandazo Mnkandla of Bubude with 33,85m.
The boys’ discus title went to Thabo T Ncube with 32,10m, while Faliosa Neya of Somvubu won the girls’ discus with 26,11m. Neya also topped the girls’ shot put with 9,08m, making her one of the standout performers in the throws.
In the boys’ shot put, Prince Dube took victory with 12,36m, adding yet another layer of variety to a championships that truly tested every facet of junior athletics development.
Relay teams add teamwork and excitement
The relay events brought energy, teamwork and crowd appeal, with athletes showing that athletic success is not only about individual brilliance but also about collective execution.
In the girls’ 4x100m relay, GDAC claimed victory in 53,52, ahead of Ihlathi High and Kip Keino. The relay closed the programme on a note of intensity and demonstrated the importance of baton work, co-ordination and squad depth.
What the championships revealed
Taken as a whole, the Bulawayo Naaz Junior Championships revealed several important trends.
First, the sprint events remain one of the strongest areas of development, with athletes such as Nyika and Kunorubwe delivering headline-worthy performances.
Second, schools and clubs like Nash, Sacred Heart, GDAC, Binga Academy, Pure Speed, Somvubu and others are clearly investing in broader athlete development across multiple disciplines.
Third, the field events and distance races showed that the talent pipeline is no longer concentrated in only one or two event groups. There is now visible depth in endurance, hurdles, jumps and throws — a healthy sign for the future of Zimbabwean athletics.
Above all, the championships provided motivation, evidence and momentum. Athletes now have a platform from which to assess themselves, sharpen weaknesses and prepare for a much bigger national test.
