Naaz on cloud nine

THE president of the National Athletics Association of Zimbabwe (Naaz), Tendai Tagara, has hailed the present state of Zimbabwean athletics as one of the strongest in recent history.

This follows the emergence of no fewer than 18 athletes, who have met qualifying standards for the Africa Senior Championships due to be held in Ghana next month.

“Zimbabwean athletics has never been in a stronger position than it is today. The fact that we now have at least 18 athletes, who have attained qualifying standards for the Africa Senior Championships is not by chance — it is the result of deliberate, consistent and collective effort across the entire athletics ecosystem.

“This progress speaks to the resilience and commitment of our athletes, the technical excellence of our coaches — both locally and in the diaspora — and the growing alignment within our structures. We are seeing the fruits of hard work, discipline and a shared vision.

“I would like to pay special tribute to my executive team and the broader athletics family — our provincial structures, officials, clubs, schools, and support personnel — who continue to work tirelessly, often under very limited resources, to keep the sport alive and thriving,” said Tagara.

Corporate partners and sponsors also came in for some mention.

“Your support has been instrumental in sustaining momentum and creating opportunities for our athletes to compete and excel. What we are witnessing today is the beginning of a new era. Zimbabwe athletics is rising — with purpose, with pride and with a clear intent to compete at the highest level on the continent and beyond.”

In a brilliant start to the year, Zimbabwe has three jumpers who have made the grade for Accra, Ghana.

Tafadzwa Chikomba, a long jumper, lies ninth in the world and is the best performing African with a leap of 8,25m, well above the 7,80m qualifying mark for the event.

Chengetai Mapaya’s reign at the top of the triple jump discipline is under threat following Theophilus Mudzengerere’s 16,83m hop, step and jump on Independence Day, achieved in the US.
Mapaya has a 16,85m done on February 6.

Mapaya is 15th in the world, while Mudzengerere is 16th and both have jumped over the 16,00m barrier.

On the track, national record holder in the women’s 100 and 400m hurdles, Ashley Miller has done well for herself with a 12,92-second time in the shorter event and 55,97 in the longer.

The qualifying marks are 14,00 seconds for the 100m and 59,5 seconds for the 400m.

Vimbayi Maisvorewa, who holds the 400m record, has a season’s best of 51,66 seconds for her 59th best time in the world, with unknown Ntokozo Ncube bursting into recognition with a 52,08 seconds time over the distance to position herself 98th globally. The flat 400m has 54,6 seconds as the target, a rarity for the country to have four women in contention for a major event by merit and not a wild card entry.

With finances often the challenge and at times the national association bailed out by the running collegiate season in the US, they find themselves under pressure with the 200m “Big Two” – Makanakaishe Charamba and Tapiwanashe Makarawu – now professionals. They are available this time around and have qualified.

The cut off point for the 200m is 21 seconds and Methembe Tshuma, 15th in the world, has 20,26 seconds, Charamba 20,28, Denzel Simusialela 20,47, Carlton Siwela 20,63, Dennis Hove 20,69, Alpha Mpofu 20,71, these being times run this year and with the outdoor season now gaining momentum.

National 200m record holder fired warning shots in the 100m at the weekend as he continues with his build-up to the 2026 season.

Makarawu’s 10,10 seconds in the shorter sprint is the 31st-best time in the world and a qualifying standard for the African Championships.

Tshuma has a season’s best of 10,22, Charamba 10,23 and Simusialela 10.25.

The flat 400m has almost half a dozen boys eligible for Ghana, whose generous qualifying standard is 46,5 seconds.

Leeford Zuze, whose 44,91 is the best among Zimbabweans and the third mark below 45 seconds after 44s run by Talkmore Nyongani and Lewis Banda, carries the favourite tag to make the trip as Zimbabwe eyes beyond the Senior African Championships.

There are the African Games next year and the Los Angeles Olympics on the horizon.
Hove has run 45,00 seconds, Thandazani Ndlovu 45,14, Siwela 45,53, Takudzwa Pahuma 46,15, Alpha Mpofu 46,21 and Gerren Muwishi 46,67.

There is also the men’s 4x400m team considered, given the strong and big pool of 400m runners, to be a potential medal winner at the African Championships and African Games.

They have the 13th-best time in the world and are headed to the World Relays in Botswana next week.
Better times are expected in Botswana this weekend at the Gaborone Golden Grand Prix, taking place on the same day as Zimbabwe’s Inter-Provincial Championships.