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Sports Reporter
ZIMBABWEAN long jumper Ngonidzashe Makusha continued to rule the roost in the world indoor athletics scene when his season opening 8.10m leap stayed the leading mark for the third week.Makusha, a former World Championships bronze medallist remains the leading athlete in the world. He jumped another good effort of 8.04m which is the fourth best of the year in a competition held in France on Sunday. He won the event, his second in a fortnight of action as he prepares for the World Indoor Championships.
Pavel Shalin of Russia has the world’s second best mark of 8.08m with third spot he attained on Saturday being a jump of 8.06m.
Makusha’s weekend jump is the fourth best with Chistian Rief of Germany fifth with 8.00m.
Indoor athletics is always the season opener for track and field and has often given indications of athletes’ preparedness for the gruelling outdoor scene.
At the moment Makusha is the only Zimbabwean with a notable mark. It could not be ascertained yesterday how other foreign based athletes are doing on the scene. Makusha remains the country’s hope in long jump and the 100m sprint in international events.
Next year’s All-Africa Games and the 2016 Olympics will be crucial competitions for him if he maintains his good form. He is the only Zimbabwean athlete to have run a legal sub 10 seconds, 100m which is the national record of 9.89 seconds.
His exposure in both the US and European circuits have left him a much sought after field event specialist.
Online Reporter