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Ellina Mhlanga
Senior Sports Reporter
ZIMBABWE’S leading marathon runner Isaac Mpofu is holding his head high ahead of the World Athletics Championships in Budapest, Hungary. The global athletics showpiece is scheduled for August 19 to 27.
Mpofu is one of the four athletes who carry the Zimbabwean flag at the championships. He will be making his third appearance at World Championships.
His maiden appearance came at the competition in Doha, Qatar in 2019 where he clocked 2 hours 29minutes 24seconds to finish on position 52.
He again qualified for last year’s World Championships held in Oregon, USA and put up a hugely improved and impressive performance when positing a time of 2hours 7minutes 56 seconds for a 10th-place finish.
Mpofu’s performance saw him setting a new national record, which he later broke in December last year when he clocking 2hours 6minutes 48seconds at the Valencia Marathon in Spain. That time also helped him punch his ticket to the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, France. As he braces for this year’s Championships, Mpofu feels motivated taking into consideration the strides he has made since his debut in Doha four years ago.
“For me it’s quite a big motivation because going to my third World Championships is a big one, in terms of my profile too it’s quite huge. “So I am quite motivated having the chance to prove (myself) again, to try and at least fight for a medal or fight for top five…If my body is well, everything is well, that’s the aim to fight for at least top five or podium position,” Mpofu said.
“At each and every competition we learn a lot, so on this one I tried to work on my weaknesses which I noted on my previous World Championships. “Hopefully I am going to execute this one in a proper manner because I have worked on one or two things.” He has been in camp in Harare for over a month, together with two other marathon runners, Ngonidzashe Ncube and Fortunate Chidzivo.
“Improving on time and position is the key. If we at least get one or two individuals in top five that would be great. But our aim is on improving time and to push each other so that some will also qualify for the Olympics.
“The preparations are going well so far, all is well in camp. We are trying our best to push on training, and (I am) injury-free, so far so good. “I am satisfied with what we have done so far on the ground. We have worked hard, just waiting for the competition to come so that we can implement what we were doing in training,” said Mpofu.
The three marathon runners will be joined in Hungary by United States-based sprinter Tapiwa Makarawu, who qualified for the 200m event. National Athletics Association of Zimbabwe director for coaching, talent identification and development Lisimati Phakamile believes they have a good team in place.
“Going to this year’s edition we are expecting that our team being led by seasoned marathon runner Isaac Mpofu, we will move a notch above what we did at the last Oregon Championships.
“And at least attempt the podium or even get up to the podium performance with the likes of Isaac being our probable or most hopeful prospect for us to get to that target.
“Tapiwa is a new athlete, is a new kid on the block and is getting into the sprints department where he is going to be meeting the world champions, where he is going to be meeting these elite track and field performers for the first time.
“But I am expecting him to push, at least clear the first stage and also attempt the second or the semi-final stage.
“So this is the team that we have and I am hopeful that our team is going to represent us very well,” said Phakamile.
The marathon runners are expected to leave for Hungary on August 22 in the company of veteran coach Benson Chauke.
Online Reporter