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Zimpapers Sports Hub
ZIMBABWE’S American-based athletes have stunned the world with incredible achievements on the track, both in the United States college circuit and senior international competitions.
Makanakaishe Charamba and Tapiwanashe Makarawu have been tipped to make more history if they continue to improve.
This is the view of Khumbulani Dube, a Kenya-trained athletics coach who works with the National University of Science and Technology team.
“If they keep getting better, there’s more history to be made,” said Dube, who began his athletics journey 30 years ago in rural Gwanda, inspired by former 800m junior record-holder Zibusiso Nyoni.
Last year, the duo made history by running the 200m in under 20 seconds, with Makarawu setting a record of 19.94 seconds and Charamba close behind with 19.95.
In the same year, Makarawu was a top-three athlete in the indoor season, clocking 20.29 seconds.
He went on to claim a medal at the African Championships in Douala, Cameroon, in June 2024.
Though their times were not at their best, the two Zimbabwean sprint stars reached the final of the Paris Olympics—marking the first time the country had two athletes in an Olympic final.
If their 2024 achievements were considered a fluke, the world must now take notice, as both athletes hold the fastest indoor time this year at 20.13 seconds.
Run on a difficult banked track—where athletes must lean through the curves—the time suggests a potential sub-20-second 200m on a conventional track.
Last month, Charamba set a new Zimbabwean 200m record of 19.92 seconds, only for Makarawu to surpass it with an astonishing 19.84-second gold medal run from lane nine at the NCAA finals in the US.
Both have now qualified for the World Championships in Tokyo, Japan.
Dube noted that it is rare for African athletes from the same country to achieve a 1-2 finish at that level.
The NCAA Division One finals are among the world’s most competitive championships, often featuring Olympic champions still at university.
Online Reporter