Online Reporter
Petros Kausiyo in TOKYO, Japan
VETEREAN Zimbabwe long distance runner Isaac Mpofu secured a top 10 finish at the on-going World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, Japan Monday Morning.
Mpofu, the national record holder in the marathon ran a Season Best 2 hours 10 minutes and 46 seconds.
It was Mpofu’s fourth appearance at the World Athletics Championships and the 38-year-old is easily the most experienced of the eight-member Team Zimbabwe contingent in Tokyo.
His Zimbabwe teammate Tendai Zimuto struggled on his World Championships debut but creditably completed the gruelling race when placing 61, in 2:28:10.
Tanzania’s Alphonce Felix Simbu just won the closely contested marathon in 2:09:48 in a photo-finish that saw second placed German Amanal Petros also registering the same time.
In third place was Italian Illiass Aouani (2:09:53) while Israel’s Haimro Alame finished fourth in 2:10:03 and Ugandan Abel Chelangat completed the top five with a time of 2:10:11
Team Zimbabwe long-distance runners’ coach Benson Chauke was happy with the performance of his athletes, which he felt was “a result of the hard work, determination and sacrifice, which the athletes have put in.
“It was not easy out there in the incredible Tokyo heat and it highly commendable to have Isaac finish in the top 10 and for Zimuto to try his best in his first marathon at the World Championships,’’ Chauke said.
There was no immediate joy on debut too for Ashley Miller who could not make the semi-finals of the Women’s 400m hurdles.
She had finished eighth in Heat 4 of the competition in 56:35 and her time was placed 37th overall in an event in which only the top four from each Heat qualified for the semi-finals.
Online Reporter