adminNgqabutho Moyo Sports Reporter
LOCAL athletes failed to meet World Championship times at the much anticipated National Athletics Association of Zimbabwe (Naaz) Championships held at the National University of Science and Technology in Bulawayo yesterday. As has always been the case, Naaz data capture officials jumbled results and could not avail the outcome of some events after activities.
The event, that had all the provinces participating, attracted athletes from Botswana.
Seventeen-year-old Yvonne Vanhuvaone stole the show, winning the 400m senior women’s race in 57.03 seconds ahead of fellow Bulawayo athlete Rachel Ngwarayi, 19, who clocked 59.01 seconds and ZRP Harare’s Grace Gimo, 25, who crossed the line third in 59.40 seconds.
Pre-race favourite Enlitha Ncube of Midlands continued with her fine performance that makes her one of the country’s brightest prospects for future international events winning the 3,000m race in 10 minutes 01.39 second followed by Patience Gurure of Sparrows Athletics Club who finished 49 seconds late while Cynthia Taderera of Bulawayo was third in 11 minutes 24.23 seconds.
Seasoned athletes who also participated at yesterday’s meet included Wellington Varevi who won the 5,000m men’s race in 14 minutes 44.10 second with Matabeleland South’s fellow road runner Nkosiyazi Sibanda breathing down his neck crossing the line four seconds behind.
Enias Nhoro, the first vice-president for Naaz, was happy with the attendance as well as level of competition. “We had 26 Botswana athletes participating and most of our provinces were also represented which to our standards means this was a well attended competition. The tracks and field competitions were being used as qualifiers for World Junior Championships and Senior African championships in Morocco later this year. The juniors missed qualifying times by whiskers and the same happened with our seniors but their times were not bad. There is room for improvement,” said Nhoro.
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