adminSenior Sports Reporter
MANICALAND Athletics Board will hold its annual provincial cross-country championships tomorrow (Saturday) at Aloe Park in the city centre.The event starts at 8am.
MAB boss, Joshua Matume, confirmed that the event which will see athletes competing in a loop system will go ahead as scheduled.
He said the event was meant to select athletes that would take part in the national cross-country championships ahead of the regional competition.
“This is actually a selection meeting where we want to come up with a team to represent the province at the national championships to be held in Kadoma on February 14.
“From this national selection meeting, Team Zimbabwe will then travel to Malawi for the regional cross-country championships set for February 28,” said Matume.
MAB invites all athletes from local secondary and tertiary institutions to take part and stand a chance to compete at a higher level.
“We are inviting all our secondary schools, clubs and tertiary institutions to this very important provincial meeting. We have four categories in junior women and men as well as senior women and men.
“Most of our junior athletes are expected to come from our secondary schools. This competition will also help to shape our junior athletes in preparation for their National Association for Scholl Heads (NASH) cross-country competitions.
Collin Kanyimo was the senior men’s winner last year, while Carolione Mhandu from Mamunyadza High in Buhera scooped pole position in the junior ladies category.
She crossed the line ahead of Makoni District’s Dzidzai Gumede.
Blessing Wayisoni was the junior men’s winner as he beat Nyasha Mutsetse who came second. Spencer Makuwaza was third.
Participants in the junior women category will compete in 4km races, mainly targeting those between 16 and 17 years.
Juniors’ men and senior women will compete in 8km races, while the senior men category will see participants competing in 12km competitions.
Contestants are expected to pay an entry fee of $1 for junior athletes and $2 for the seniors.
Meanwhile, Chipinge-based MAB secretary, Taurai Gatsi, said they will hold a national Level One Starters’ Course on February 5 and 6 (yesterday and today).
“MAB will be holding a National Level One Starters’ Course. This is the first one of its kind to be held in the country. Participants will learn how to handle the Starter’s Pistol and start a race without causing unnecessary stress on the athletes. So we are inviting all those who are interested to register at our SRC offices Mutare,” he said.
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