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Sports Reporter
HARARE Athletic Board (HAB) vice-chairperson Aaron Whyte says they are hoping for a positive start to the season when they host their season opener for 2024 early next month.
They will stage their cross country event at Allan Wilson on January 7 and it is open to all age-groups from cadets, youths, juniors and seniors.
“We have started preparing, we are going to have it Allan Wilson and we are targeting all age groups, from cadets, youths, juniors and seniors.
“Being a season opener we are not going to do standard distances, we are going to do conditioning distances while we prepare for our selection event, a month after that.
“So cadets (Under-15s), we are going to accommodate all age-groups under cadet even kids athletics. So we are going to have from 1km to 4km for that age-group. So the young ones will do 1km.
“And then we have Under-16s who will do 4km for boys and girls. And then Under-18 girls will do 4km and then boys will do 6km, and then juniors and senior men will do 8km, junior women will do 4km and senior women will do 6km,” said Whyte.
Registration is underway and will run until January 4.
The event will mark the start of the 2024 athletics season, with the rest of the provinces also expected to hold their provincial cross country events in the same month.
Whyte said they are expecting a good competition since coaches and athletes have been preparing for the forthcoming season.
“Since they are coming from their specific preparation into pre-competition, we are expecting them to actually be ready to race because our athletics season is starting early because of the African Games that are in March.
“And we also have got World Cross Country Championships, end of March. So we are expecting coaches to have their athletes prepared, almost ready to peak, especially for cross country around that time.
“We are not expecting them to be at peak but they should actually be starting pre-peak. We are going to have our selection event, our cross county selection event in preparation for the national championships,” said Whyte.
The national cross country championships are scheduled for February, after all provinces have had their provincial competitions.
Meanwhile National Athletics Association of Zimbabwe athletes commission chairperson Dickson Kamungeremu believes more competitions on the local scene will go a long way in preparing athletes for major events.
NAAZ have indicated, for the upcoming 2024 season, they would want to hold more local events to prepare for regional, continental and international events lined up for the year.
Kamungeremu said the move by the national association is important for preparing athletes for the bigger stage.
“The more you race the more you are mentally prepared for bigger events. So the association, in trying to give us more races, it is positive because it allows athletes to adequately gauge their progress.
“We are therefore encouraging athletes to compete in local competitions as much possible and to take the national events seriously,” said Kamungeremu.
He urged athletes to work hard ahead of the upcoming season.
“Work hard, prepare adequately, 2024 is packed with events and so we will need to call on athletes that are prepared to compete for the country on the national, regional and international stage,” said Kamungeremu.
Some of the major competitions on the 2024 calendar include the African Games, Paris 2024 Olympic Games and the World Athletics Under-20 Championships.
Online Reporter