Ellina Mhlanga Zimpapers Sports Hub
DISTANCE runner Godwin Katakura is targeting a new personal best when he competes in the TCS Amsterdam Marathon in the Netherlands on Sunday, despite an injury-disrupted build-up to the race.
The marathon will be his second major race of the year after he finished second at the ADAC Hannover Marathon in Germany in April, clocking an impressive two hours, eight minutes and 47 seconds.
As he prepares for the Amsterdam race, the Cadence Athletics Club runner is hoping to improve on that time, although he admits his preparations have not gone according to plan because of injuries.
“My training for Amsterdam, at first, everything was okay and everything was going according to plan.
“But I could not continuously follow my programme as per the initial plan because of some injuries. I picked up some injuries along the way, which affected my preparation.
“Even now, I am not 100 percent there, but it is now manageable. I am feeling better because I can now train.
“So, for Amsterdam, I am going there targeting a personal best. If I can get a PB, then I will be okay with that, based on the preparations that I have done. The preparation did not go as I had planned and expected,” Katakura said.
The Zimbabwean is among the athletes the National Athletics Association of Zimbabwe (NAAZ) is banking on to secure qualification for the men’s marathon at next year’s World Athletics Championships in Beijing, China.
Katakura currently has the third-fastest marathon time among Zimbabwean runners, behind national record holder Isaac Mpofu and Moses Tarakinyu, who recently clocked two hours, eight minutes and 26 seconds.
Mpofu holds the national record of two hours, six minutes and 48 seconds, while the qualifying standard for the men’s marathon at the 2027 World Athletics Championships is two hours and six minutes.
Qualification is determined through a combination of entry standards and world rankings, giving Zimbabwe’s leading marathon runners an opportunity to strengthen their cases through consistent performances in international competitions.
Katakura said injuries had forced him to take time off during a crucial phase of his training programme, affecting his ability to complete the planned tapering and speed-work sessions before the race.
“I had to take some time off to heal during the preparation period when I was supposed to be tapering and having my speed-work sessions.
“But the long runs and hill workouts we had worked on, but tapering and speed work we could not polish up because of the injuries.
“But I am hoping for a PB,” he said.
Speaking to Zimpapers Sports Hub recently, national long- and middle-distance running coach
Benson Chauke said the times posted by Zimbabwe’s leading marathon runners had put the country on the right track towards securing representation at the global showpiece.
Chauke said consistent performances close to the qualifying standard could help the athletes accumulate valuable world-ranking points, even if they did not immediately achieve the required time.
“As a country, I think, even if we do not get people who will win or achieve the actual qualifying time of 2:06, if we have more of our boys running closer to 2:06, not once but maybe twice or three times, then it gives them an opportunity to earn points so that they can now be considered to go and run at the World Championships.
“Tarakinyu has a 2:08, very impressive. Godwin has a 2:08, very impressive.
“Now, the current time, Tendai Zimuto has a 2:10, which is fair.
“What awaits them is the World Championships. Tarakinyu and Katakura must run again so that they can score points to be considered for World Championships qualification next year.
“So, we are on the right track. We have three people who are very close with the recent times,” Chauke said.
Katakura is expected to leave for the Netherlands tomorrow ahead of Sunday’s race.
