adminMzingaye Sibanda Sports Reporter
ZVISHAVANE-BASED athletes will get a chance to qualify for the Coca-Cola Four-Minute Mile challenge during the Shabanie Mine Track and Field Championships at Maglas Stadium on Saturday.
Bulawayo Athletics Board (Bab) secretary-general Dailes Bingadadi confirmed that they would take the trials for the ZITF Four-Minute Mile Challenge to Zvishavane.
She encouraged athletes from Masvingo, Midlands and Manicaland to utilise the chance to join the 20 that have qualified so far.
The qualifying standard is four minutes 31 seconds.
Bingadadi said they want to give everyone across the country an opportunity to qualify for the finals that will be held at the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair later this month.
“We took this opportunity so that there will be events in Zvishavane for trials so we will be engaging the organisers to include us in their programme.
“We want many people to qualify. Our target is to have over 50 athletes, that’s why we are moving across the country holding these trials. This is an opportunity for those who can’t travel to Bulawayo for trials,” said Bingadadi.
The winner of the competition will walk away with $800, second prize is $400, the third prize is $350, while prizes for fourth to 10th athletes will be $350 down to $25. Bingadadi is worried that no woman has participated in the competition.
“We have never had female athletes participating. It’s not like they are not allowed, maybe it’s the qualifying time which is a factor since men and women run different times over the distance.
“I believe there are some who can do it. We will visit the issue to understand what might be the problem,” she said.
Sparrows’ athlete Thando Maphosa was the first athlete to qualify for the mile challenge during the first trial held at Gifford High School in Bulawayo in February.
The event is set to be explosive with many high-profile long distance runners having already booked their ticket to the finals.
Phathisa Ngwabi, Elijah Mabhunu, Simbarashe Chigaga, Bornfree Jeki, Wellington Varevi, Wirimai Juwawo and Isaac Mpofu are among those who have qualified for the event.
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