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Innocent Kurira, Sports Reporter
DENFORD Mlilo retained his provincial cross-country championship title after finishing in first position at this year’s event held at Nketa Park in Mpopoma yesterday.
The race started at Nketa Drive Park in Mpopoma, going through Matshobana and back to the park.
Mlilo crossed the finish line after 36 minutes 28,16 seconds. Dumisani Siziba was second with a time of 39 minutes 29,24 seconds.
In the senior women’s Lesedi Nkomo came first in a time of 50 minutes, 09 seconds. Angela Moyo managed to get second position after crossing the finish line in 55 minutes, 38 seconds.
Thokozani Dube was third with a time of 56 minutes, 46 seconds.
Next up are national cross-country Championships are slated for 16 January in Bindura.
Naaz will use the nationals as part of preparations for the World Cross Country Championships slated for Australia in February.
Zimbabwe will also host the National Junior Championships and the Senior Inter Provincial Tournaments in March.
Naaz is leaving nothing to chance for Zimbabwean athletes to make the grade for the 2024 Olympic Games with the road map being fine-tuned.
The association had a fruitful 2022 season after Covid-19 restrictions were lifted and focus is now on preparing athletes to make the grade for the 2024 Olympics.
The 2023 World Athletics Championships will then take place in Budapest, Hungary, in August.
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Bongani Ndlovu