Online Reporter
Lovemore Dube [email protected]
DERRICK Matutu, who is yet to be thrown into the deep end of athletics, proved his worth in Zimbabwe athletics teams with the fastest 100m time at last week’s Bulawayo Athletics Board track and field championship held at White City Stadium.
Matutu, who hails from the border town of Beitbridge in Matabeleland South, is a member of the Zimbabwe 4x400m relay team that broke the national record and finished fifth in the World Relays held in Botswana on May 2.
The team went on to claim gold at the Africa Senior Championships held in Ghana in the same month.
Matutu was, however, an unused substitute in both championships and has always declared himself ready to serve if called upon.
On a cool Saturday morning, Matutu underlined his worth by running the fastest 100m of the day when clocking 10.32 seconds, well ahead of second-placed Donald Maguyu of White City Athletics Club.
There were some outstanding results by Matabeleland South athletes, a majority of whom are vying for places for the Zimbabwe National Youth Games set for Marondera in Mashonaland East next month.
The Cyrene High School team finished second to Fast Lane Crew in the 4x100m.
Andile Jappie and Ngqabutho Maphosa of Cyrene were first and second in the boys’ Under-18 contest with times of 22.21 seconds and 22.26.
Kipkeino Athletics Club of Gwanda brought several athletes and are expected to have over half a dozen runners for the Zimbabwe National Youth Games team.
They had Brighton Ndlovu coming second in the men’s 1 500m in 4 minutes 09.34 seconds.
Sandrose Moyo claimed the youth boys’ title with a time of 4 minutes 21.72 seconds in the 1 500m.
Ndlovu’s teammate Prince Chiwoto won the boys’ Under-18 title in 53.75 seconds while Msana Ndebele, also of the same club, was first in 50.15 seconds over the same distance.
Ndebele recovered to place second in the 800m with a promising time of 1 minute 58.28 seconds.
The Matabeleland South team for the Zimbabwe National Youth Games is expected to be announced soon.
