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Ellina Mhlanga
Senior Sports Reporter
THE National Athletics Association of Zimbabwe have short-listed 40 athletes for the upcoming African Under-18 and Under-20 combined championships to be staged in Lusaka, Zambia later this month.
The selectors panel made up of several coaches, including head coach Zimbabwe athletics Lisimati Phakamile and head coach for junior and youth teams Briad Nhubu, completed the selection process on Saturday at the NAAZ Gift Chigwere Junior Track and Field championships.
The juniors’ meet was held at White City Stadium in Bulawayo and was the final selection competition. They also used the National Association of Primary School Heads and National Association of Secondary School Heads competitions as part of the selection process.
Nhubu said they are now shifting focus to preparations for the continental championships that will be held from April 29 to May 3.
“The selection process is done and we now await the camp phase which could be anytime from after the Easter holiday. There is a lot to be done because this is a high level competition that requires thorough preparation.
“We need to polish our tactical and technical approach. Also to be worked on is mental toughness. They need to have thorough concentration and focus, so these attributes need to be worked on,” said Nhubu.
They short-listed 20 youths and 20 juniors. However, Nhubu said there is still room to adjust the list.
“I was very impressed by the huge turn up of athletes. We had several heats for 100m, 200m and 400m. All field events as well had a very impressive turn up.
“A good number have qualified for Zambia, and among others we had David Nyamufarira, Denzel Simusialela, Privilege Bower and Panashe Nhenga, who qualified at Peter House and others.
“Currently we have short-listed 20 juniors and 20 youths. Of course this is a list that could be adjusted. We have short-listed some to provide sets for relays,” Nhubu said.
Nyamufarira, Simusialela, Bower and Nhenga made the grade in 100m and 200m events for the juniors’ competition.
Simusialela and Nhenga have previously represented the country in major competitions.
Simusialela was part of the 4x100m men’s relay team that won a bronze medal at the African Senior Championships in Mauritius last year in June while Nhenga competed in the 200m event at the same meet.
They both went on to represent the country at the World Athletics Under-20 Championships in Colombia, with Simusialela competing in 200m while Nhenga represented the country in the 100m event.
Bower won the women’s 100m in 11.86seconds on Saturday, beating favourite Samukeliso Ndebele, who represented the country at the World Under-20 Championships in 2021 to second position with a time of 11.93seconds. They both competed as independent athletes.
Bower also competed in the 200m, where she came second with a time of 24.87seconds, behind Thelma Mjinjiwa, who won the race in 24.77seconds.
The men’s 100m was won by Nyamufarira in 10.18seconds. He also ran the 200m event and came second with a time of 21.46seconds. In first place was Simusialela in 21.23seconds.
Other highlights from the championships came from the 4x100m relay with Laxoc team winning the women’s category in 50.33seconds while Kutama A won the men’s in 42.05seconds, as the national selectors are also hoping to come with some teams for the relay events in Zambia. The athletics mother body has indicated that with the African Under-18 and Under-20 combined championships closer home, they would want to field a big team.
Saturday’s competition attracted athletes from schools, clubs as well as independent athletes.
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