IS THIS A GOLDEN ERA FOR ZIM 4X400M TEAM?

Ellina Mhlanga

Zimpapers Sports Hub

FOR Thandazani Ndhlovu, his performance at the FNB Botswana Golden Grand Prix came at the right time as he braces for the World Athletics Relays this weekend in Gaborone.

Ndhlovu delivered an impressive performance when claiming victory in 400m in a personal best of 44.71 seconds. The Botswana Golden Grand Prix is a World Athletics Continental Tour Silver Event.

The 21-year-old is a member of the men’s 4x400m relay team that will take to the starting line on Saturday for the World Relays running until Sunday.

“I considered that race as a test to see where I am before the World Relays and identify my weaknesses before we go for the World Relays, so I was just trying to fix my last 50m, and it worked.

“It’s giving me confidence that we are going to be somewhere in the mix,” declared Ndhlovu.

The other members of the team are captain Gerren Muwishi, Dennis Hove and Leeford Zuze.

Kelvin Bvekerwa joins the team as a reserve.

Hove was placed fifth in the same race in 45.96 seconds, and Zuze was eighth with a time of 46.38 seconds. The team took advantage of the event to step up their build-up for the World Relays and continues with the final touches ahead of the competition. Ndhlovu’s previous personal best was 45.30 seconds. Ndhlovu last month made it clear he was going for a sub-45 this season, and he just delivered in Botswana. “The race was good. I was confident, and lane eight was fine for me. I had to run my own race from start to finish. All went as planned; I just did it the Wayde (van Niekerk) style.

“I had the mindset that if Wayde set a world record in lane eight, what could stop me from running a good time? “I knew that winning that race, I was going to run a 44. “Getting to that race, I think I was position six by time, behind people with 44.30, 44.91, 45.00, 45.01, 45.05, so I knew if I were to win, it would be a 44.

“I wasn’t that surprised when I saw the time, I was just happy with the title,” said Ndhlovu.

Ndhlovu becomes the second member of the team to run a sub-45, after Zuze clocked 44.91 seconds a few weeks ago in Botswana as well.

The World Relays being staged on the continent for the first time, also present a platform to qualify for the 2027 World Athletics Championships.

Zimbabwe are hoping they can also secure a spot to the championships come this weekend.

National Athletics Association of Zimbabwe director of coaching Phakamile Lisimati, who will be joining the team in Botswana, said the individual performances are a positive sign.

“We are quite excited with the results that we have seen from this weekend at the Botswana Grand Prix.”