adminThe men’s marathon will be held on Sunday and will mark the end of the 16-day London Olympic Games which officially got underway here on 28 July.
Zimbabwe will, on Sunday, field two athletes in the men’s marathon — Cuthbert Nyasango and Wirimayi Juwawo who will also happen to be the country’s last two representatives in this year’s world’s biggest sporting extravaganza.
In fact, Zimbabwe have endured a rare barren run at these ongoing London Games after five other members of Team Zimbabwe — swimmer Kirsty Coventry, rowers Micheen Thornycroft and James Fraser-Mackenzie, female long distance runner Sharon Tavengwa and triathlete Chris Felgate — all failed to win a medal of any colour for their country during the first two weeks of high octane action at these global Games.
Marathon runners Nyasango and Juwawo will be Zimbabwe’s last medal hopes at the 2012 London Games when they compete in the gruelling road race on the last day of the Games on Sunday morning.
Nyasango and Juwawo arrived here on Monday and they are already flexing their muscles to get Team Zimbabwe on the 2012 London Games medal table for the first time when they compete in the men’s marathon event.
Tagara, who is the two seasoned Zimbabwean long distance runners’ manager and coach at the London Games, had yesterday, an air of confidence as he prepared his men for what will be one of their biggest challenges in their careers.
Tagara said his charges were raring to go and was convinced that they will do themselves and the nation proud by being placed in the Top 10 after Sunday’s men’s marathon which starts at The Mall and finishes in front of Buckingham Palace in London.
He also said both Nyasango and Juwawo had had an uninterrupted training programme ahead of the London Games and they were both fit and could not wait to get on the road on Sunday.
“We’ve been doing well, training wise, when Nyasango and Juwawo arrived here in London on Monday they first requested to have a training session on gravel and we managed to get a gravel area for them to train on in the Olympic Park.
“Yesterday (Wednesday) we went to the main Olympic Stadium for speed and interval runs for about one-and-ahalf hours and everything is so far looking good.
“The boys are very positive and they are raring to go,” Tagara said of Nyasango and Juwawo as they prepare to take on some of the top male long distance runners in the world.
Nyasango is making his second appearance at the Olympic Games while Juwawo will be appearing at the world’s biggest sporting gala for the first time in his career.
Nyasango first competed at the Olympics in Beijing, China, in 2008 where he was entered to run in the men’s 10 000m event but he failed to last the distance to mark a disappointing debut appearance at the biggest global sporting showcase.
Nyasango will be out to redeem himself when he returns to the grandstage, carrying the Zimbabwean flag at the London Games with Juwawo.
Coach Tagara said Nyasango was in good shape and the athlete was determined to give his best shot during the race.
“Cuthbert has indicated to me that he is in a better shape than he was when he competed in the World Championships marathon event in Daegu, Korea, last year where he finished 16th in the world,” Tagara said.
Nyasango made his presence felt at the World Championships in Daegu where he came home in the Top 20, finishing the race in 16th place in 2 hours 15 minutes 56 seconds.
He also has a good time of 2:13:19, recorded at the Berlin Marathon in Germany in 2009 where he finished a credible 10th.
Nyasango will be looking for a repeat performance when he takes to the road again in London, fighting to bring glory to his country with fellow countryman Juwawo.
However, Juwawo indicated prior to his arrival that the Games will be a learning process for him and he is not coming here necessarily to win, but he would like to finish in the Top 10.
“It’s not going to be an easy event for me. I am going there on a learning process but I have set myself a Top 10 finish. It has always been my dream to qualify and participate in the Olympics because I had missed qualifying times in the previous Olympic Games.
“I want to utilise this opportunity and expose my talent to the whole world,” Juwawo said.
The Zvishavane-based road runner has the chance to race into international recognition when he takes part in this marathon with Nyasango.
Their coach Tagara said for the two men to succeed, they have to work as a team throughout the race.
“In fact, we are psyching each other up at the moment and what the guys need to do on Sunday is to work as a team, pulling and pushing each other…It will be more of team work than anything else.
“In fact, a marathon is a mind game and one also needs a strong mind to do well in this event and I think both Cuthbert and Wirimayi are both mentally and physically fit to tackle the tough course in the streets of Central London
“I’m happy from what I’ve already seen from these guys, I’ve worked with both of them before and I tell you, they are raring to go.
“Sometimes athletes complain a lot before competing in tough events or races, complaining about their running shoes or training conditions and other small things.
“I’ve not heard any such complaints from these two guys and I’m quite positive and confident that they would produce miracles on Sunday,” Tagara said.
Online Reporter