Online Reporter
Ellina Mhlanga
Zimpapers Sports Hub
IT is mid-January and while most athletes are still easing into the season, National Athletics Association of Zimbabwe long and middle-distance head coach Benson Chauke is already mapping the next four Olympic cycles.
His focus is narrow and deliberate, young marathon runners who can step into the space currently owned by Isaac Mpofu and Tendai Zimuto.
Marathon running remains Zimbabwe’s most reliable presence on the global athletics stage, a record built over years of steady qualification rather than sudden breakthroughs. Chauke wants that line to hold, and he wants it renewed early.
Godwin Katakura, Wayne Kabondo and Caroline Mhandu sit at the centre of those plans after recent exposure at the World Cross Country Championships. Their selection was not symbolic. Chauke says it was about testing how they respond when the pace, pressure and standards rise.
“As head coach, long and middle-distance, we are looking at who has been doing so well apart from Isaac and Zimuto. We are tracking people like Katakura,” Chauke said.
Katakura’s trip to the World Cross Country Championships followed his national victory, a pathway Chauke insists still matters. But the bigger objective went beyond medals.
“We are happy that Katakura went to the World Cross Country Championships because he won nationally and the association sent him. What we wanted him to experience is what it takes to be there at World Championships level, whether it’s cross country or marathon,” he said.
It was Katakura’s first appearance at that level, and Chauke believes the value lies in what happens next, not what happened on the day.
“He had his debut at such a race. The experience that he has gained from there will help him now and his coach to plan for the future.”
Numbers back the interest. Katakura has already posted a 2 hours 11 minutes marathon, a time Chauke describes as competitive at this stage of his career.
Blessing Waison is in a similar bracket, while Moses Tarakinyu has run 2 hours 13 minutes. None are yet automatic qualifiers for the biggest meets, but all are close enough to warrant structured monitoring.
“I haven’t spoken to the coach to figure out what the pathway is after this because he has 2:11, which is a good time. Same with Blessing Waison, he has a good time. The other target is Moses Tarakinyu with 2:13,” Chauke said.
Age is the separating factor. Chauke is clear that this group is not being rushed for short-term results but groomed for longevity.
“These are the likes of Katakura. Why? Because of age. Wayne Kabondo also went for the World Cross Country. Going there was meant to make them realise what it takes to compete at that level. They are under 26-year-olds. These are the people we are targeting for 2028 and 2032.”
Munyaradzi Zizhou, a 24-year-old from Masvingo, is also on the radar after consistent improvement on the domestic circuit. Chauke says the list is not closed, but those identified now will be watched closely, especially in how they structure training and recovery.
On the women’s side, Caroline Mhandu has emerged through strong performances over 10 kilometres and half marathon distances. Her selection for the World Cross Country Championships followed her position as the country’s top-ranked runner.
“Caroline was picked because she was number one. The encouragement we gave her was that she needed exposure to run at World Championships. She has had her lessons. When she comes back, she understands what it takes to run at that level,” Chauke said.
The benchmark remains Mpofu, who carried Zimbabwe’s flag at the World Championships in 2022, 2023 and 2025 and followed that with a solid showing at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. Zimuto joined that space two years ago and made his World Championships debut last season, easing the pressure on a single standard bearer.
Chauke says succession planning is no longer optional.
“We will keep our eyes on them and see how they develop. While we look at the senior ones, we also need to look at the group that will succeed them when they retire from competitive athletics,” he said.
