Online Reporter
Zimpapers Sports Hub
THIS past weekend saw the world’s best athletes converging in Budapest, Hungary, for the inaugural World Athletics Ultimate Championship, and Zimbabwe’s Makanakaishe Charamba and Ashley Miller were part of the field.
The meet brought together the world’s top-ranked athletes, including Olympic champions from 2024, last year’s world champions in Tokyo, and this year’s Diamond League winners, who earned automatic berths as well as those who qualified via their world ranking and a small number of exceptional invitations.
Charamba missed out on the final after finishing fifth in heat two in the semi-final in 20.13 seconds on Sunday.
Only the top four from each of the two heats advanced to the final.
Miller also bowed out on Saturday in the women’s 400m semi-final after placing sixth in 54.23 seconds in heat one of the two semi-final heats.
National Athletics Association of Zimbabwe director of coaching, talent identification and development Phakamile Lisimati said having two athletes at the competition was huge for Zimbabwe as local athletes continue to push to establish themselves among the best.
“Actually, we had three athletes that were invited. Unfortunately, the other one had visa issues and travel restrictions there.
“We are quite impressed and happy as an association, especially on the coaching side, that now we have athletes who are picked, who are recognised at the Ultimate World stage.
“Getting an invitation to this championship is a big thing and it’s making us proud as Zimbabwe that we are counted amongst the world’s top athletes, amongst the world’s top athletics countries or participating countries.
“This is quite an impressive performance,” said Lisimati.
Charamba and Miller had some outstanding performances this year that saw them earning their spots at the Championship and had hoped to make the final in their respective events.
“I want to congratulate the two athletes, Makanakaishe Charamba and Ashley Miller, for their performance again at the championship.
“They both bowed out in the semis but that’s a very good performance . . . I am sure in the next championship they will do far better than getting to the semis and go on all the way to the final.”
United States’ Kenneth Bednarek won the men’s 200m title in a world-leading time of 19.52 seconds. He received US$150 000.
Botswana’s Letsile Tebogo was second in 19.76 seconds. Bednarek’s countryman Courtney Lindsey came third in 19.79 seconds.
The women’s 400m hurdles title was won by Jasmine Jones from the United States in 52.45 seconds.
Slovak Republic’s Emma Zapletalova was second in 52.68 seconds. Anna Cockrell from the United States clocked 53.09 seconds to complete the top three.
