Online Reporter
Zimpapers Sports Hub
NJENGOBA iZimbabwe ilungiselela ukuthakazelela iminyaka engu-45 yathola inkululeko mhlaka 18 Mabasa, indlela zizaqonda njalo enkundleni yeWhite City lapho okuzabe kulomncintiswano wokudinga abazagijima kuma-final eCoca-Cola Four-Minute Mile Challenge.
Umncintiswano lo uzaqhutshelwa eZimbabwe International Trade Fair (ZITF) ngempelaviki ezayo.
Abagijimayo abangu-23 sebengene kusigaba sama-semi final azaqhutshwa mhlaka 25 Mabasa, enkundleni yeZITF, kuthi ama-finals wona azaqhutshwa mhlaka 27 ngelanga lokucina lombukiso weZITF.
Phakathi kwalabo abazancintisa kuhlandla lama- semi final nguWellington Vaveri, ogijimela iBlack Rhinos, usenqobe lumncintiswano kathathu. Ngomnyaka odluleyo walandelwa nguJohn Kisilu Muinde oweKenya lo-Andrew Ndlovu oweBlanket Mine.
Sekuleminyaka efika i-28, lokhe kwacina uGray Mavhera eqeda lumjaho ngesikhathi esingaphansi kwemizuzu emine, nge-3.58 seconds. Akula oseke wawuqeda ngaphansi kwemizuzu le. Minyaka yonke, abagijimayo kuleli bafuna ukuthi benze okwenziwa nguMavhera.
Umgcinisihlalo weBulawayo Athletics Board (Bab) uWatson Madanyika, uthe bakhangelele ukuthi kube labantu abanengi abazabukela labazancintisa.
“Umjaho we-Four-Minute Mile umkhulu. Unxusa abantu abanengi, abazagijima labazabukela kunye lamabhizimusi aphakamisa umphakathi osemalokitshini aseduzane lenkundla yeWhite City. Singathaba kakhulu nxa kungaba lomuntu ongenelisa ukuthi agijime ukwedlula uMavhera,” kutsho uMadanyika.
UMadanyika uthe usanda kuvela edolobheni leHarare lapho obekusenziwa amanye ama-qualifiers. Uveze ukuba eHarare kube labangu-14 abangene kuhlandla lama-semi finals.
“EHarare sithole abagijimayo abangu-14 abazancintisa kuma-semi final omjaho weFour-Minute Mile. Sikhangelele ukuba lamathuba ama-qualifiers amanengi njalo sizakwenza amanye ngelanga likaZibuse koBulawayo,” kutsho uMadanyika.
