Online Reporter
Ellina Mhlanga-Zimpapers Sports Hub
FRESH from emerging as the world’s 10th fastest man over 42km, top Zimbabwe long distance runner Isaac Mpofu is now gearing up for his last competitive race of the year — the Cape Town Marathon in South Africa next month.
The marathon is slated for October 19.
Mpofu, who is just coming from the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, Japan, said he is looking at working on fine-tuning a few areas before heading to South Africa.
“Now I have one race left which is in Cape Town, the Cape Town Marathon.
“I will try by all means to step up and try again to do one or two things in session because it’s close, 19 October, it’s very close.
“So, I will try to do one or two things and sharpen up some of the things that I felt I lacked at the World Championships so that I can go to Cape Town with better fitness, hopefully for better results,” said Mpofu.
In Japan, Mpofu clocked his fourth appearance at the World Championships and his time of 2 hours 10 minutes 46 seconds, was his season’s best.
“I can say that I am happy to have represented the country for the fourth time at the World Championships.
“The more you go to these championships, the more experience you gain.
“So, I am happy to represent the country and I am happy also to go there and perform and learn again because we learn a lot from these competitions.”
Mpofu feels he surpassed the expectations he had placed on himself.
“For me I wasn’t expecting to get that position or to run a 2:10. I doubted myself because, honestly, I knew that I wasn’t 100 percent fit. But so far so good,” said Mpofu.
Having made his debut in 2019, the 37-year-old has been consistent in his performances in the last three editions and this is the second time he managed a top 10 finish at the biennial global meet.
He achieved the same feat in 2022, when he finished 10th in 2 hours 7 minutes 56 seconds in Oregon, United States.
And he says he is not done yet.
“My age is still good and I still feel I can do better for the country.
“And on an honest note, I think I can retire at the next Olympics, which is in 2028, which means at the next World Championships (Beijing), I will be there and lastly, I will go to the next Olympics (Los Angeles). Those are my targets so far.
“Hopefully by God’s grace I will be able to go there and participate,” Mpofu said.
The seasoned runner also underscored the importance of financial support for athletes to enable them to reach their full potential.
“Mostly we need much more motivation, and mostly our sport needs financial support, which most of the athletes are lacking.
