Chronicle Editor
Innocent Kurira, Sports Reporter
IT wasn’t the expected turn out at the first athletics event of the year but, Bulawayo Athletics Board (Bab) chairperson Watson Madanyika believes numbers at competitions will increase as the season progresses.
Only four athletes took part in the senior men’s category at the provincial cross-country championships held at Nketa Drive Park in Mpopoma yesterday. The women’s event was foregone as no athletes showed up. A small number participated in the cadets and junior men’s categories.
“We had our first event for the 2024 season which was the cross-country. We had over 50 athletes overall, who participated. The turnout was a bit low, because most of the guys haven’t started their training but we hope that in the second edition on 20 February, the turnout will be good,” said Madanyika.
He said they want to build a strong team for the national championships.
“We are selecting athletes who will represent the province at the national cross-country competition which will be held in Kwekwe.
“In Kwekwe we will be selecting the team that will represent Zimbabwe in Serbia at the World Cross-Country Championships.
“The cross-country championships helps our athletes to become fit as they prepare for the national and international competitions, so I encourage clubs and schools to send athletes,” said Madanyika.
In the senior men’s category Bonani Moyo was first to the finishing line in a time of 35 minutes and 26 seconds. In second place was Washington Chiminya who managed to finish the race in 38 minutes and 38 seconds. Freedom Banda managed a third place finish with a time of 41 minutes and 51 seconds.
In the junior men’s category, Shalom Mazaviya came first in a time of 30 minutes and 10 seconds. He was followed by Mduduzi Ncube who finished the race in 30 minutes and 44 seconds. In third place was Tavonga Maseva who finished in a time of 30 minutes and 48 seconds.
The cadets girls’ category, which was a 2,5 kilometre race was won by Rutendo Mathuthu who finished in a time of 12 minutes and 34 seconds and was followed by Lesedi Sibanda who finished the race in 12 minutes and 45 seconds.
Settling for third was Luyanda Mnkandla who recorded a time of 15 minutes and 21 seconds.
The next category was the cadets’ boys event, which was also a 2,5 kilometer race too and was won by Gabriel Magara in 11 minutes and 40 seconds while second placed Ryleigh Ndlovu finished the race in 11 minutes and 59 seconds.
In third place there was Nkanyiso Tshuma who recorded a time of 12 minutes and 16 seconds. – @innocentskizoe.
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