Coca-Cola Four-Minute run qualifiers on

Fungai Muderere . .
THREE Bulawayo-based athletes have so far qualified for the forthcoming Coca-Cola Four-Minute Mile Challenge whose finals are set to be held at the ZITF Main Arena at the end of April.

Bulawayo Athletics Board (BAB) chairman Manuel Mpofu said the first and second qualifiers were held at Bulawayoaï¿½ï¿½s White City Stadium on 14 January and 24 February respectively and those saw Dumo Mkhwananzi of Sparrows, City Meatsaï¿½ï¿½ Xolani Nkiwane and Denford Mlilo of Sparrows book their final berths.

The Coca-Cola Four-Minute Mile is an annual male competition with a prerequisite time of four minutes 31 seconds for one to qualify for the finals.

Mkhwananzi qualified in a time of four minutes 28,00 seconds while the duo of Nkiwane and Mlilo crossed the finish line in four minutes 31,00 seconds.

aï¿½?So far three athletes Dumo Mkhwananzi, Xolani Nkiwane and Denford Mlilo have qualified for the finals of the Coca-Cola Four-Minute Mile Challenge. The qualifiers will be done all over the country and on 10 March they were held at Harareaï¿½ï¿½s Morris Depot and no one qualified,aï¿½? said Mpofu.

He added: aï¿½?On Sunday, we are going to have several of the qualifiers during a track and field event that is going to be hosted by Nust. We are looking forward to field 30 to 40 athletes and before the final day we are going to have semi-finals of the event at White City Stadium where we are going pick the top 20 based on time.aï¿½?

In last yearaï¿½ï¿½s final event, Zimbabwe Republic Police Fairbridge athlete, Trust Chidomaya took the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair Coca-Cola Four-Minute Mile Challenge.

Willard Mutasa of Bulawayo Jumbos had led for the better part of the race but the 41-year old Chidomaya overtook him on the last bend to cross the finish line in four minutes, 17,52 seconds. Mutasa took second spot in four minutes 18,56 seconds while Blessing Chidziva of ZRP finished third in four minutes, 19,38 seconds.

Chidomaya, winner of the same race in 2015 walked away with $800, a medal, a miniature trophy and a shield.

Mutasa pocketed $400 accompanied by a miniature trophy as well as a medal with $350 heading Chidzivaaï¿½ï¿½s way which also went with a small trophy and medal.

Ngonidzashe Ncube took fourth place which carried a cash prize of $300, Nomore Wiriki ended fifth to take home $250. In sixth position was Levison Mapfuwa who got $200, $125 went to Isaac Mpofu for his seventh place finish.

Trust Hove settled for number eight to get $100, Boniface Jeki was ninth to get a reward of $75 while $50 went to Tapiwa Chineka for his 10th place finish.

Berbaton Mhlanga of ZRP Fairbridge failed to finish the race, something he attributed to running with bare feet.
The race which had 20 runners taking part.

Coca-Cola activation manager, Vee Chibanda said they were obligated to back healthy way of life as a way of making sure that those who consume their products lead healthy lifestyle.

aï¿½?As Coca-Cola we are committed in supporting community healthy living lifestyles to ensure our consumers realise their dreams. An important race principle to note is that there is room at the finish line for all of us. It isnaï¿½ï¿½t all about winning or losing, itaï¿½ï¿½s about the experience and being in it together,aï¿½ï¿½aï¿½ï¿½ she said.