Chronicle Editor
Innocent Kurira
OUT of a field of eleven athletes, only one, Humphrey Kunaka managed to qualify to the next stage of the Coca-Cola Four Minute Mile Challenge during a qualifier held at the National Sports Stadium at the weekend.
Kunaka, who represents Black Rhinos, finished the race in 4 minutes 28 seconds. He was the only athlete to finish with the qualifying time of 4 minutes 31 seconds to progress to the semi-finals of the event.
Bulawayo Athletics Board (Bab) chairperson Watson Madanyika said he was hopeful the next qualifying events will see more athletes surpass the target.
“Athletes are finding it difficult but we have the Independence Day qualifiers at White City Stadium and we will be in Bindura on April 22. Hopefully we will have athletes improving their times,” said Madanyika.
So far, 10 athletes have qualified for the semi-finals which can be foregone if few runners make it past the initial qualifiers.
Munyaradzi Zizhou and Mthokozisi Mhlanga, both from Blanket Mine were the first to qualify at a meet held in Bulawayo.
The other athletes qualified from an event in Harare where Nyasha Mutsetse managed a time of four minutes, 20 seconds while Levison Mapfuwa finished in four minutes, 21 seconds.
Nomore Wiriki had a time of four minutes, 23 seconds with Trust Hove crossing the line after four minutes, 24 seconds. Godwin Katakura was not far behind with a time of four minutes 25 seconds.
The Black Rhinos duo of Munashe Mundure and Bornface Jeki ended the list of those that made it to the semi-finals with the times of four minutes 27 seconds and four minutes 30 seconds respectively.
Wellington Varevi came out tops last year. It was the third time that Varevi has won the race after he did so in 2014 when he was just 20 years old and 2018 at the age of 24.
The 28-year-old crossed the finish line in a time of four minutes, 13,64 seconds, Nyasha Mutsetse was second in four minutes, 14,31 seconds and Nomore Wiriki was third in four minutes, 14,87 seconds.
Katakura went into the race with the best qualifying time of four minutes, 10,66 seconds but could only settle for fourth place in four minutes, 15,28 seconds. — @innocentskizoe
Online Reporter