Online Reporter
Lovemore Dube [email protected]
ZIMBABWE’S rising 400m star Ropa Muzondo delivered a standout performance at the ongoing Cosassa Games, claiming gold in the boys’ Under-18 final at White City Stadium yesterday afternoon.
Muzondo stormed to victory in the one-lap race in a time of 46.65 seconds, underlining his growing reputation as one of the country’s most promising sprint talents.
Earlier in the day, he had comfortably won his heat in 47.90 seconds to secure a place in the final.
Although the time was below his personal expectations, Muzondo had confidently predicted that he would return later to challenge for gold.
South Africa’s Levi Swart finished second to claim silver in 47.16 seconds, while Calvin Kandira secured bronze as Zimbabwe and South Africa dominated the podium positions in the boys’ Under-18 event.
In the girls’ race for the same age category, South Africa continued its strong showing as Chane Fourie won gold in 55.25 seconds. Lize-Mari Van Berg took silver in 55.46 seconds, while
Zimbabwe’s promising Bulawayo athlete Thembelihle Ncube claimed bronze in 55.83 seconds despite running from the outside eighth lane.
South Africa’s Micah Mateop Africa produced one of the fastest performances of the day, clocking a hand-timed 10.16 seconds to win gold in the boys’ Under-18 100m final.
The impressive run is likely to attract the attention of athletics scouts monitoring emerging talent at the regional competition.
His compatriot Omphile Ltebele took silver in 10.33 seconds, while Zimbabwe’s Kudakwaskhe Kaseke prevented a South African clean sweep by taking bronze in 10.52 seconds, a time that could see him emerge among the country’s elite young sprinters.
In the boys’ Under-14 100m final, Namibia’s Fillemon Hafeni claimed gold in 11.49 seconds.
South Africa’s Mason Van Wyk settled for silver in 11.63 seconds, while Zimbabwe’s Tawananyasha Reza completed the podium with bronze in 11.89 seconds.
South Africa continued its dominance in the girls’ Under-14 sprint events, with Bukho Mkhenkwe winning gold in 11.95 seconds.
Nolwandle Dlamini added another silver medal for South Africa after finishing second in 12.22 seconds, while Elandri Pitzer claimed bronze to complete an all-South African podium.
In the senior girls’ shot put competition, Hanna Olujubi produced a winning throw of 14.13 metres.
The next two positions were also claimed by her teammates, with Erica Marais taking silver on 13.63m and Annabelle Bliglaut securing bronze with 13.62m.
With many countries struggling to make an impact in the field events, Zimbabwe’s Nelson Mudyiwa delivered one of the hosts’ highlights by winning a rare gold medal in the javelin.
Mudyiwa threw 46.57 metres to finish first, while Levy de Jager claimed silver with 44.05m.
Zimbabwe’s Danzel Nhambirwa took bronze after a throw of 33.67m.
In the boys’ Under-18 high jump, Equin Josephs cleared 2.00 metres to secure gold.
Zimbabwe’s Prosper Chinguwo won silver after clearing 1.95m, while Romeo ensured the hosts collected a second medal in the event by taking bronze with a jump of 1.90m.
Phillip Meyer won the boys’ Under-14 discus competition ahead of Zimbabweans Nhambirwa and Reza, who threw 35.30m and 30.33m respectively. Meyer secured victory with a throw of 42 metres.
The Cosassa Games continue this morning, with the remaining events scheduled before the prize-giving ceremony later in the afternoon.
