Online Reporter
Ellina Mhlanga
Zimpapers Sports Hub
ZIMBABWE men’s 4x400m relay team takes to the starting line today at the Debswana World Relays with captain Gerren Muwishi describing the meet as a key stepping stone for next year’s World Championships.
The relays taking place today and tomorrow in Gaborone, Botswana will see the top 12 teams in each of the six events on the programme automatically qualifying for the 2027 World Athletics Championships in Beijing, China.
The six events on the programme include the Women’s 4x100m and 4x400m, Men’s 4x100m and 4x400m as well as the Mixed 4x100m and 4x400m relays. Zimbabwe’s team consists of Muwishi, Dennis Hove, Leeford Zuze and Thandazani Ndhlovu. They are joined by Kelvin Bvekerwa as a reserve. Zimbabwe are hoping to be among the 12 teams in the men’s 4x400m relay that will secure tickets to next year’s World Championships.
Muwishi said they will be out to give their best on the track.
“The competition over the weekend is the best stepping stone towards World Championships in Beijing. So, we will try everything in our power to ensure that we can put ourselves in contention,” said Muwishi.
“The gents are taking each day as it comes.
“From being serious on the track to having fun off the track, the gents have been enjoying themselves and this is great going into the weekend because we go into the competition in high spirits.”
Muwishi, however, noted that; “There are several performance affecting factors that must be considered and so far, we seem to be on track for a good result,” he added.
Zimbabwe are up against Senegal, Germany, South Africa, Portugal, China and Kenya in Heat Two of the three heats lined up. Heat One is made up of Denmark, Nigeria, Australia, Poland, Brazil, the Netherlands, hosts Botswana and Jamaica.
Mexico, Switzerland, Qatar, Spain, India, Belgium, Great Britain and Japan make up Heat Three. The first two from each of the three heats plus two fastest time qualify for the final, while also securing automatic qualification to the World Athletics Championships.
The Zimbabwean team has been in Botswana for a week, and the likes of Ndhlovu, Zuze and Hove took part in the FNB Botswana Golden Grand Prix, competing in individual events last Sunday. They posted some encouraging results with Ndhlovu running 44.71 seconds in the 400m event, to set a new personal best.
He became the second member of the team to run a sub-45 after Zuze achieved the same feat a few weeks ago.
Muwishi said the final phase of their preparations have gone well.
“It’s been great.
“The team has been bonding and staying together in the same place has done well for our chemistry because Botswana is our neighbour, we have been acclimatising well because conditions are almost similar as back home.
“The boys feel great and we are hoping that will reflect on the track this weekend.
“The boys competed over the weekend at the Grand Prix and we now have two 44s athletes in our relay, so that was a huge boost for the team.
“Our chemistry and bond is at an all-time high so we are good to go,” added Muwishi.
World Championships places are up for grabs on both days of action. On day two (tomorrow), all other teams will compete in the World Championships qualifying round two where the top two in each of the two heats will also qualify for the World Championships.
