Online Reporter
Ellina Mhlanga,Zimpapers Sports Hub
ZIMBABWE coach Aaron Whyte believes exposure and experience at the World Athletics Under-20 Championships will go a long way in shaping the future of the athletes.
Zimbabwe had a nine-member team competing in the men’s 4x400m and mixed 4x400m relays, men’s 400m and high jump for the championships which ended Sunday.
Zimbabwe’s best result was reaching the men’s 4x400m relay final for the first time at the World Athletics Under-20 Championships.
Mzondo reached the men’s 400m semi-final.
“For starters, we learned that when we come here, especially for the relays, we need to come with a strong six, super strong six, because coming from the heats going to the finals, and doing mixed relay with the same guys is quite challenging,” said Whyte.
“So, I think going forward, we need to build a pool of strong athletes so that we don’t rely on the same good athletes.
“I think it’s very possible. It’s only that we had some injuries in the camp. That’s why we recycled athletes. But I think going forward, it’s one area that we need to look at.”
The other members of the team were Nataly Shoko and Anesu Nyahuma, who were part of the mixed relay team, high jumper Tatenda Chindowa, Alvin Simon and Malachi Mafunga.
The relays have become one of the areas of interest for the National Athletics Association of Zimbabwe, which saw them utilising their slots in the men’s 4x400m and mixed 4x400m events.
Chindowa and Mzondo qualified for their individual events early in the year.
The idea is to also push female athletes as the country has struggled to have the numbers compared to their male counterparts in particular as they go to the senior level.
And it requires a deliberate approach to try and not only identify and nurture athletes, but retain those talented athletes throughout to the big stages.
Whyte said there is a need to develop more girls, and also widen the pool of athletes that can qualify for such events as the World Under-20 Championships.
“Even with the girls, we need to come with more girls. We need to develop more girls, and we need to have more athletes qualifying.
“It broadens their horizons and their perspectives in terms of competing at the world stage.
“It builds a lot of confidence in these youngsters
“If you look at countries like South Africa, Botswana, who are just our neighbours, they have loads and loads of kids coming.
“South Africa had more than 50 kids. Botswana had more than 40 kids coming here. So, we also need to do likewise,” Whyte said.
He added the need to maintain and build on the team going forward.
“I think the team here needs to be maintained. We need to keep encouraging them to train.
“Whoever is going to be training with them just needs to make sure that the team is kept intact.
“Like I said, we are not going back to the drawing board, but we are going forward because all the work that needs to be done on the drawing board has been done.
“We can’t keep on going back to the drawing board, but we need to move forward…Planning for 2028 starts now,” Whyte said.
