Chauruka expected to hog limelight

Under-18 boys sprints during the Claver Machiridza Memorial Meet at the University of Zimbabwe tomorrow in the absence of Tinashe Mutanga.
Mutanga, the African 100m and 200m champion, is away in the United States of America with the World Wide Scholarship team for the Penn Relays.
During the Robert Lerumo Track and Field Championship last week, Mutanga was the star of the show as he won the senior men’s 100m and then stopped the clock first in the 200m.
Now the attention will be on Chauruka as he has shown a lot of potential during the schools’ championships.
Job Danha is another fine athlete from Mufakose High who could do well tomorrow while Tamuka Chimwadza from Peterhouse is the favourite to win the 800m race.
Faithful Goremudandu from Kwekwe is expected to compete in the women’s 1 500m
The Harare Athletics Board are organising the meet in honour of the late HAB chairman Claver Machiridza who died in 2008.
Silas Muringani, the HAB secretary, hopes the event would also enable the clubs and athletes to prepare for the National Athletics Association of Zimbabwe Youth and Junior Championship at Sakubva Stadium next week.
The Youth and Junior Championship will serve as a selection event for the African Junior Championship in Botswana next month.
“We are expecting most of the clubs and schools from around Zimbabwe to come for the Machiridza Meet.
“This is an opportunity for the youth and junior athletes to try and work towards the continental championships in Botswana.
“We will be using the tartan surface and this provides the best conditions for improving on their times.
“I think most of the athletes have now peaked and we hope to see some excellent races,” said Muringani.
The Machiridza Meet will have 1 500m as the longest event while the 100m, 200m and 800m have also been included.
High jump, long jump, triple jump, shot putt and javelin are the field events on offer.
Muringani is also hoping to see former crack junior sprint queen Tamla Pietersen returning to track as she revives her career.
Other athletes expected at the meeting include Tatenda Tsumba, Mutsa Gambe and Hosiah Goredema.
Meanwhile NAAZ director of coaching Tendai Tagara said they are expected to use the Sakubva meet to pick a team for the Botswana competition.
“We are going to host the national track and field competitions at Sakubva Stadium next Saturday. We are excited that a number of athletes across the country have since confirmed their participation.
“It is important to note that we are going to use this event to select a team that will represent the province in the forthcoming Africa Junior Championships set for Botswana.
“After the Botswana event, successful athletes will then proceed to take part in the international competitions to be held in France later this year,” Tagara said.
Tagara said all track and field events will be held except the hurdles, high jump, medley relays and the 4 x 200m relays.