Chronicle Editor
Lovemore Dube in Cameroon
US based Tapiwanashe Makarawu lived up to his billing at the African Senior Track and Field Championships, which ended at Japoma Stadium, Douala, Cameroon yesterday.
Going into yesterday’s final, Makarawu who had reservations with running on the third lane for the third consecutive race, had run a season’s best and national record of 19.93 seconds, the fourth best by an African runner.
He was indeed a medal hopeful as he had a blistering season on the indoor circuit where he ran 20.29 seconds for the second best time in the world.
Joseph Fambullah of Liberia won the gold medal in 20.25 seconds with Makarawu second in 20.51 seconds as he added a second silver after Chengetai Mapaya’s in the triple jump on Tuesday.
Abho Emmanuel of Cameroon was third for bronze in 20.66 seconds.
Abdul Rasheed of Ghana settled for fourth in 20.67 seconds.
Coach, Pakamile Lisimati was excited with the silver.
“It’s two in the bag, silver for that matter, last time around it was just bronze in one event. Congratulations to Makarawu for his silver and Ashley Miller for finishing fourth,” said Lisimati.
Miller finished fourth in the women’s 400m hurdles.
She clocked 57.43 seconds in a race won by South Africa’s Rogail Joseph in 55.71 seconds.
Second was Noura Emmanuel of Morocco in 56.16 seconds.
She had problems in the morning after being landed on lane eight as she had seventh best time of the qualifiers.
She alluded to the lane’s effect but was happy with her effort.
“I am still a newbie in this, Paris is this summer, this season I have run four personal best, Los Angeles is next one, will have an opportunity to run again, I’m still young, I see this as a start of a really lovely career in track and field. I feel excited representing Zimbabwe at this stage,” said Miller.
She said there is still World Championships to contend with too.
She won bronze in the 100m hurdles in Ghana during the March African Games.
Online Reporter