NAPH competition kicks off

The young athletes are competing in 100m, 200m, 400m, 800m, 4x100m, 4x200m, 75m hurdles, 80m hurdles, long jump and high jump and by late yesterday Masvingo had picked several medals in the various events including nine gold medals.

They got their first gold in the Under-12 girls’ 100m through Rachel Mukoki who ran 13.12seconds to win the race.
Thokozani Ndlovu of Matabeleland South came second in 13.16s and on third place was Lucia Kausiyo with a time of 13.18s.

Mukoki went on to clinch another gold in the Under-12 girls’ 200m after beating Lucia Simon of Mashonaland Central and Patience Khumalo of Matabeleland North who finished second and third.

Sarah Chipenzi won gold in the Under-13 girls’ 100m in 12:46s while Nyasha Bvudzi claimed gold in the Under-14 boys’ 800m in 2mins 7.68s.
Dorothy Chipenzi weighed in with a gold medal in the 200m Under-13 girls’ race in 27.50s while Trymore Mukweva won gold in the Under-13 boys’ high jump.
Babra Mpofu added another gold in the Under-13 girls’ long jump.

Gladys Munodawafa and Jabulani Ganyiwa also weighed in with a gold medal each.
Midlands also had a good start as they picked some medals, including two gold, in the Under-14 boys’ 100m when Israel Tembo came first in 12.3s, beating Victor Kweni of Mashonaland Central who finished second in 12.16s and Ian Mhandu was third in 12.47s.

Maxman Tapera of Midlands also claimed a gold in the Under-12 boys’ 100m in 12.75seconds ahead of Lawrence Moyo of Masvingo who clocked 12.83s and in third place was Nelson Maodzwa in a time of 12.97s. The top three athletes in the Under-14 age-group will represent Zimbabwe in the COSSASA Games in May and director of competition, Aeneas Nhoro, said they were impressed with the level of competition displayed by the young athletes.

“The level of competition is quite high and the turnout is good because every province is bound to come. The kids are doing well in terms of their performance.
The competition continues today with physical education competition and the presentation of prizes for the winners in both athletics and physical education.
All the country’s 10 provinces are taking part in the two events.

The competition is being sponsored by Nestle Zimbabwe to a tune of US$130 000 and the winners in both the athletics event and physical education competition will pocket US$5 000 while the runners-up in the two events will get US$3 000 and third placed team will walk away with US$2 000.

The other provinces will get US$1 000 each for participating in both events. The objective of the competition, which is in its second year, is to raise nutrition and health wellness awareness among school children across the country.