LATEST: NAAZ announces team for African Champs

Phineas Mukwazo, Sports Editor

@pmukwazo

THE National Athletics of Zimbabwe has picked the teams to represent Zimbabwe at the 20^th Confederation of Athletics Associations African Seniors Championships in Durban, South Africa from 22 June to 26 June.

The teams that went into camp in Bulawayo yesterday include 11 women and 14 men.

However, the list could be expanded subject to the availability of some juniors who are currently in Zambia for the Southern Region Junior Championships that conclude on Friday.

National Athletics Association of Zimbabwe president Tendai Tagara said in coming up with Team Zimbabwe, they looked at giving both the juniors ample opportunity to participate at the Championships.

“We looked at a mixture of seniors and juniors as to give the youngsters opportunity to be pushed for World Juniors Championship qualification,’’ said Tagara.

The IAAF World junior Championships are set for Kazan, Russia next month.

Tagara also disclosed that Durban will also offer their athletes a chance to qualify for Rio 2016, while those have already qualified get improve on their personal best times.

“We expect a medal from Mvumvure, some juniors to achieve qualifying times, seniors to PB times, and some local based athletes to grab medals,’’ he said.

Headlining the team list is the United States based duo of Ngonidzashe Makusha and Gabriel Mvumvure.

Makusha, a national record holder over 100 m and Long Jump with 9.89 seconds and 8.40 m respectively, became the first Zimbabwean track and field athlete to qualify for Rio de Janeiro after achieving an Olympic qualifying time of 10,14 which was inside the qualifying time 10,16 s in Louisiana, United Staes in April.

Mvumvure, a former African junior champion who has a personal best time of 9,98 seconds, is expected to join camp in Bulawayo ahead of the team’s departure for South Africa on Saturday.

There were also places for seasoned runners Olivia Chitate, and Jacob Mugomeri, who represented the country at the Africa Cross Country Championships this year.

Meanwhile, Athletics South Africa has selected one of the largest teams ever to represent South Africa at the 20th CAA African Senior Championships in Durban, South Africa from 22 – 26 June 2016

A total of 96 athletes made of 52 men and 44 Women will be led by team management of 16 members.

Team Zimbabwe

Men:

100m/200m: Gabriel Mvumvure, Ngoni Makusha, Hlungwayo Shingirai

200m: Makusha

400m: Francis Zimwara, Nigel Tom

800m: Chaonza Alfred,

5000m: Tendai Zimuto

800m/1500m: Nyasha Mutsetse

1500m: Wellington Warevi

10 000m: Jacob Mugomeri

110m hurdles: Selby Mukucha