Huge turnout for Bab track and field trials

Ngqwele Dube, Sports Correspondent

OVER 500 athletes from all over the country are expected to converge on White City Stadium this morning for the Bulawayo Athletics Board track and field trials.

Bab chairman, Manuel Mpofu said all clubs in the city confirmed attendance with those from Hwange, Victoria Falls and Dete also confirming participation.

Mpofu said most of the athletes that were short-listed for the African Games have also indicated their presence at the event.

The event will give athletes an opportunity to improve their times as they head to various events in the next three months.

“We have the African Games coming up next month and we are also going to see the return of the National Youth Games in the country with other athletes heading for the World Championships in Doha, Qatar in September.

“Although we are going to be using manual timing it will present an opportunity for the athletes to improve their times while at the same time it will present an apt practice session for the athletes as they head to their various competitions.

“We are happy all clubs in Bulawayo will be taking part and we are also going to have athletes such as Isaac Mpofu, Trust Chidomaya, Faith Nyathi, Dumo Mkhwananzi, Thando Maphosa and promising Mpopoma student, Privilege Bower,” he said.

Athletes will take part in a number of disciplines that include high jump, long jump, triple jump, shot put, javelin, discus, 1 500m, 400m, 100m and 200m races among others.

Meanwhile, the athletics squad for the African Games has been selected but awaiting release by the Sports and Recreation Commission.

National Athletics Association of Zimbabwe president, Tendai Tagara said they have forwarded the list to the SRC who will announce the list.

SRC spokesman, Tirivashe Nheweyembwa revealed they will only announce athletes that will represent Zimbabwe once all disciplines have submitted their lists.

“We are only going to make an announcement once all the associations have submitted their lists and we have finalised on those travelling,” he said.