Online Reporter
Zimpapers Sports Hub
MAKANAKAISHE Charamba and Tapiwanashe Makarawu have been tipped to make more history if continue to improve.
This is the view of Khumbulani Dube a Kenya-trained athletics coach who is working with the National University of Science and Technology team.
Charamba and Makarawu have stunned the world with some incredible athletics achievements on the track within the United States of America college scene and senior international competitions.
“If they keep getting better, there’s more history to be made,” said Dube who started his athletics journey 30 years ago in rural Gwanda inspired by the former 800m junior record holder Zibusiso Nyoni.
Last year the duo became history makers by running the 200m inside 20 seconds with Makarawu setting the record at 19.94 seconds with Charamba close by with 19.95.
In the same year Makarawu was a top-three athlete in the indoor season with a time of 20.29 seconds.
He would go on to claim a medal at the African Championships held in Douala, Cameroon in June of 2024.
While the times were not so good, the two Zimbabwe sprint greats made it to the final of the Paris Olympics, making a first for the country to field two athletes in an Olympic final.
If the 2024 achievements were considered a fluke, then the world must stand up and celebrate the emergency of a sprints powerhouse in Zimbabwe as both have the fastest indoor time for this year of 20.13 seconds.
Run on a difficulty track where athletes are on the lean on the curves throughout, the time translated to a possible sub 20 seconds 200m on the conventional track.
Last month Charamba ran a new Zimbabwe 200m record of 19.92 seconds before Makarawu bettered it with an incredible ninth lane 19.84 gold medal feat at the NCAA finals in the US.
Both have qualified for the World Championships to be hosted by Japan in Tokyo.
Dube said it is rare for African athletes from the same country to do a 1-2 at that level.
The NCAA Division One finals are among the world’s most competitive championships attracting even Olympic champions still at university.
