Online Reporter
Ellina Mhlanga, Zimpapers Sports Hub
NATIONAL Athletics Association of Zimbabwe president Tendayi Tagara has described the upcoming Southern African Confederation of Athletics Under-18 and Under-20 Championships as a vital platform for development.
The regional track and field meet is scheduled to run from Friday to Sunday in Mauritius.
The competition, formerly known as the CAA Southern Region Under-18/Under-20 Championships, is expected to feature 10 countries including Zimbabwe.
Tagara said they are now expecting to field a 22-member team. Initially they were looking at 20 athletes.
“It’s combined youth and junior athletes’ competition because that’s the new setup now even at the African youth and junior competition.
“We are sending 22 athletes for both youth and junior categories.
“This is an important meeting because that’s where development starts.
“That is where we expect athletes to start to find themselves on the global stage and to push themselves and see how best they can train.
“They get to see how other athletes are running, how they are training. They learn a lot and get the exposure they need for their development,” said Tagara.
The athletes will also be looking at improving their times by competing with some of the region’s top youths and juniors.
On medals, the Naaz president is confident they will get some podium finishes.
“If you look again, that’s where we expect our athletes to post good times for the juniors…We expect our juniors for instance in 100m, to run 10.4 or better so that they start to look serious if they want to run competitive times.
“We are expecting them to do better there.
“We have no problem on medals. We are very confident of medals because that has been the tradition.
“Our juniors have no problem when it comes to picking up medals. It’s the seniors that have challenges because of sustainability, because of the global trends in terms of access to facilities and where to train.
“We are targeting quite a number of them,” Tagara said.
The meet is also a platform for juniors to chase qualifying standards for the forthcoming World Athletics Under-20 Championships due to take place in August in the United States.
With the qualification window deadline drawing closer, the juniors will be hoping to utilise the opportunity and secure spots at the global event.
“Again, this is a critical competition because we are targeting the World Junior Championships, where we are expecting quite a number of our athletes to qualify and post good times for the World Championships.”
The team is travelling in batches, and the first group is scheduled to leave for Mauritius early this morning.
The second batch leaves tomorrow.
Aaron Whyte is in charge of the team.
Team
Under-18 Men: Malachi Mafunga (400m, 800m) Calvin Banga (400mH), Kebonyemosemane Ndebele (800m), Tanatswa Nyamukondiwa (100m).
Under-20 Men: Trey Chimunya (100m, 200m), Takudzwa Mbonyeke (100m, 200m), Nenyasha Chihora (400m), Emmanuel Uriga (400m), Alvin Simon (200m, 400m), Gift Khumalo (800m), Tawananyasha Chakonda (110mH, long jump), Panashe Mutenure (long jump), Tatenda Chindowa (high jump), Takunda Mutizwa (triple jump, long jump).
Under-18 Women: PraiseGod Nyamulepa (100m, 200m), Delight Maravanyika (100m, 200m).
Under-20 Women: Shalom Sendi (100m, 200m), Anesu Nyahuma (400m), Tashinga Ngirazi (100m, 200m), Nataly Shoko (400m, 400mH), Hayley Chingono (100m, 200m), Martha Chipuriro (800m).
