adminEllina Mhlanga Sports Reporter
FEMALE long-distance runner Olivia Chitate was scheduled to leave for China last night for the IAAF World Championships starting tomorrow in Beijing, China. Chitate’s participation was in doubt after she failed to qualify for the competition. Last week the National Athletics Association of Zimbabwe director of coaching, talent identification and development Lisimati Phakamile said they were not certain if they will get a wild card for the athlete.
However, yesterday Phakamile said the wild card confirmation came late and Chitate will join Cuthbert Nyasango, Gilbert Mutandiro, Cephas Pasipamire and Tatenda Tsumba in Beijing. The trio of Nyasango, Mutandiro and Pasipamire, who will compete in marathon, left the country on Wednesday and United States-based Tsumba is flying directly to China.
Tsumba will compete in the 200m event and Chitate will participate in the 5000m event.
“The confirmation came late and we also purchased her ticket a bit late. She will be getting 5000m,” said Phakamile
Chitate will be making her debut appearance at the championships but she is fancying her chances among the top three.
“I have competed in the World Cross-Country but the World Championships it’s my first time. Since it’s an event with the best athletes and my first time to compete I don’t have much expectations but according to my preparations I think I can make it to the top three.
“Of course, I didn’t have much preparations compared to the guys that qualified because you will notice that some may have six months of preparations since they knew they had qualified.
“But I was training although I was not targeting the World Championships. I was training for the African Games,” said the 27-year-old Chitate.
In the men’s section the limelight will be on Olympian Nyasango, who in 2012 came seventh at the Olympic Games in London.
In the previous edition in 2013, Zimbabwe fielded just two athletes for the event — Pasipamire and Gabriel Mvumvure.
Online Reporter