Online Reporter
Lloyd Makonya
Correspondent
IN a moment of electric brilliance, Zimbabwe’s Tapiwanashe Makarawu shattered the 20.17s national 200m record at the NCAA Track and Field Championships in Eugene, Oregon, USA last Friday.
Racing against a field stacked with elite collegiate talent, Makarawu crossed the finish line in a jaw-dropping 19.84 seconds, earning not just the gold medal, but a firm place in Zimbabwe’s sporting history.
The historic final, held at Hayward Field, a cathedral of global athletics saw two Zimbabweans dominate the podium.
Makanakaishe Charamba, a fellow 2024 Olympic finalist and former Hillcrest College sprinter, stormed into second place in 19.92s, completing a Zimbabwean one-two finish.
“This means everything,” said Makarawu, visibly emotional in his post-race interview.
“It was not easy coming back from an injury. It was not easy competing with these guys. I am not going to lie, those guys were running fast. It was scary.”
The 23-year-old Makarawu who is the reigning national sportsperson of the year for Zimbabwe has had to navigate a minefield of injuries, intense collegiate competition, and the pressure of international expectations since bursting onto the athletics scene.
But in Oregon, he was unstoppable his every stride a testament to determination, resilience, and raw, blistering speed.
Both Makarawu and Charamba were standout performers at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games, where they reached the final round, elevating Zimbabwe’s profile on the world stage.
Their chemistry, competitiveness, and camaraderie were on full display again in Eugene, with Charamba gracious in defeat and proud of his teammate.
“I have watched Tapi grow over the years. We have pushed each other. This is our dream playing out in real time,” said Charamba.
Their performances, not only brought pride to Zimbabwe, but underscored the growing impact of African athletes in NCAA athletics long considered the breeding ground for global sprint stars.
With the NCAA season now behind him, Makarawu sets his sights on Tokyo, where the 2025 World Athletics Championships will gather the sport’s crème de la crème this September.
He is expected to compete in both the 100m and 200m events, with Zimbabwean athletics officials and fans daring to dream of podium finishes on the world stage.
Makarawu’s story is more than a tale of athletic glory, it is a story of home-grown talent rising to global acclaim.
From humble beginnings in Harare to the pressure-cooker of American collegiate athletics, his journey is a reminder that world-class talent can emerge from any corner of the globe, given the right nurturing and belief.
As the dust settles in Eugene, one thing is clear Zimbabwe is, not just participating in global athletics, it is making history.
And at the heart of that charge are two young men named Tapiwanashe Makarawu and Makanakaishe Charamba, running, not just with their feet, but with the hopes of a nation.
Their names speak like a prayer, ‘Given by God’ and ‘You are a good God’ and through their triumphs, Zimbabwe gives thanks, not only for the gift, but to the Giver.
