Charamba, Makarawu make athletics history

TAPIWANASHE Makarawu and Makanakaishe Charamba ran themselves into athletics history when they finished first and second in the NCAA Indoor 200m final in Virginia, US as they finished the season with the best time over the distance.

Makarawu crossed the finishing line in a time of 20,13 seconds to equal the national record he now shares with compatriot Charamba.

Charamba had set the mark on February 27.

But on Saturday in finishing second, Charamba achieved a time of 20,16, still a sumptuous feat.

Never has a Zimbabwean duo finished first and second at the championships.

The NCAA Track and Field Championships are considered one of the most competitive athletics championships.

They bring together top student-athletes in American universities.

Most African records have been broken at those championships.

On Saturday as the curtains came down in the indoor season of the US collegiate sports scene, Charamba and Makarawu fired warning shots that they will be among the top African athletes to look forward to in the outdoor season which will culminate in the World Championships as the biggest competition.

Both Zimbabwean athletes appear to have continued from where they left off last year.

Makarawu set an outdoor national record after a blistering indoor season in which with his 20,29 seconds was the third best, he ran the outdoor in 19,93 seconds for the best ever time over the distance.

Charamba also ran a sub 20 second 200m, flashing the screens at 19,95 seconds.

To prove that their 2024 form was no fluke, both athletes went on to write a piece of history for themselves and the country when, for the first time, Zimbabwe had two athletes qualifying for the Olympic final.

Through that feat, they found themselves ahead of top sprinting nations, when, with the US, were the only teams with more than one athlete in the 200m final.

Bahamas, Great Britain, Trinidad and Tobago and Jamaica, major forces in the sprints world, played second fiddle to Zimbabwe in the event.

Charamba and Makarawu, barring injuries, should be among the men to beat on the outdoor scene this year.

With the season having ended, the 200m appears to have provided Zimbabweans with a platform to shine with Bulawayo boy Denzel Siamusalela finishing the year ranked 75th in the world with a best time of 20.67 a very good time that could see him run a low 20 seconds on the outdoor scene.

He will be chasing qualifying for the World Championships.

Little known US-based Zimbabwean Carlton Siwela finished the season ranked 95th in the world with 20,91 seconds indoor 200m.

Another Zimbabwean made sure women’s month celebrations back home continue with the girl child excelling and standing out as an inspiration to others back home. Vimbayi Maisvoreva was sixth in the 400m final, a commendable effort of 51,66 seconds as she wound up the year ranked 29th best in the world with a 51,51 seconds time ran earlier.

There was another Zimbabwean name on the finals list Tinoda Matsatsa, who appears to have been born and bred in the US and is running middle-distances under their banner.

Men’s 200m Final Results
1 Carli Makarawu, JR, Kentucky – 20.13 (Champion), 2 Makanakaishe Charamba, SR, Auburn – 20.16, 3 Cameron Miller, SR, Purdue – 20.49, 4 Garrett Kaalund, JR, USC – 20.56, 5 Jaiden Reid, SO, LSU – 20.75, 6 Johnnie Blockburger, SR, USC – 20.84, 7 Demar Francis, SR, Baylor – 21.00, 8 Jamarion Stubbs, JR, Alabama State – DNS

Men’s 800m Final Results
1 Matthew Erickson, SR, Oregon – 1:46.43 (Champion), 2 Abdullahi Hassan, SR, Miss State – 1:46.65, 3 Aidan McCarthy, JR, Cal Poly – 1:46.78, 4 Tinoda Matsatsa, SO, Georgetown – 1:47.05, 5 Dan Watcke, FR, Villanova – 1:47.22, 6 Justin O’Toole, SR, Washington – 1:47.74, 7 Darius Kipyego, SR, Iowa State – 1:48.79, 8 Olivier Desmeules, SR, Penn State – 1:48.84, 10 Cole Lindhorst, JR, Washington – DNS

Women’s 400m
1 Isabella Whittaker, JR, Arkansas – 49.24 (Champion), 2 Aaliyah Butler, JR, Georgia – 49.97, 3 Dejanea Oakley, JR, Georgia – 51.14, 4 Savannah Sutherland, SR, Michigan – 51.23, 5 Rachel Joseph, JR, Iowa State – 51.58, 6 Vimbayi Maisvorewa, SR, Auburn – 51.66, 7 Zaya Akins, SO, South Carolina – 52.12, 8 Ella Onojuvwevwo, JR, LSU – 52.18