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Ellina Mhlanga in Paris, France
WITH long-distance runners Isaac Mpofu and Rutendo Nyahora now in Paris for the Olympic Games, coach Benson Chauke is a happy man and says the duo has settled in well to the conditions in the French capital.
Mpofu and Nyahora will represent the country in the men’s and women’s marathon races.
Their events scheduled for the weekend will bring the curtain down on the Games.
Mpofu qualified for the men’s marathon due to take place on Saturday and Nyahora got a universality slot in the women’s race slated for Sunday, the last day of the Games.
The two runners joined other members of Team Zimbabwe at the Olympic Village on Sunday and are being led by Chauke.
“We have settled in and we have rested. We have done most of the protocol that was required of us, getting the athlete kit, that we have already done.
“So, what remains are the little things that one would do just before the big event. That is the usual little bit of running, the track work out, but not that much though because most of the work was done at home,” Chauke said.
Chauke has been working with Mpofu in his build-up for the Paris Games and they had set base in Harare since January.
Nyahora was training under the guidance of her coach Lindsey Parry in South Africa, where she is based.
They linked up in Doha on their way to Paris, and Chauke will be in charge of the two athletes during the Games.
“Rutendo was working in South Africa. We were always in touch, checking on how she was progressing with the work with her coach.
“We are going to be with her when we do our morning runs and go to the track.
“There isn’t much really that you can put now. But if you want to maintain her fitness and flexibility, just prepare the mindset to say look we are here.
“Here we are just polishing up and we will see how it will work out on the day.
“But all I know is we have one God and he gives to whoever he chooses. So, there is no fear of there is (Eliud) Kipchoge (from Kenya), there is (Kenenisa) Bekele (from Ethiopia), on a day anything can happen to anyone.
“Chance and opportunities will happen to any on the day.
“So, we are going up there saying our preparation, we have done all we thought is the best way for us to prepare with where we are, from where we are coming from, with the experience that we have.
“We will give it our all as we compete,” said Chauke.
As part of his build-up to the Games, Mpofu, who is the reigning National Athletics Association of Zimbabwe Athlete of the Year, took part in the Boston Marathon this year and finished sixth in 2 hours 8 minutes 17 seconds.
He won bronze for Zimbabwe in the half-marathon at the African Games, in Accra Ghana in March.
Earlier on he had won the FNB Kazungula Bridge marathon, in February.
Mpofu also competed in the Tanganda half-marathon where he finished third before winning a similar competition during the Econet Victoria Falls event in the final phase of his preparation.
The Zimbabwe record holder sealed his place at the quadrennial show-piece in December 2022 when running 2 hours 6 minutes 48 seconds at the Valencia marathon.
He will be out to leave a mark on his Olympic debut.
Nyahora is competing at the Olympics for the second time having competed at the Rio 2016 Games.
Online Reporter