Ncube back in training

Ellina Mhlanga Senior Sports Reporter

LONG-DISTANCE runner Ngonidzashe Ncube is back in training with the main goal for him being qualification to the 2022 World Athletics Championships to be held in the United States. Ncube missed qualification for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games in April when he ran 2 hours 12 minutes 25 seconds, missing the set time of 2 hours 11 minutes 30 seconds at the Xiamen Marathon and Tuscany Camp Global Elite Race, in Italy.

And he decided not compete in another race in South Africa, in May as he felt he didn’t stand a chance since he would not have recovered.

The Bulawayo-based athlete says he is now working towards qualification to the World Championships and is back in training.

He is eyeing the Sanlam Cape Town Marathon in October and Valencia Marathon scheduled for December.

“I was hoping to get a race in time to try and qualify early. So I am looking between Cape Town marathon and Valencia. I have already entered the Cape Town marathon, I didn’t want to leave anything to chance.
“If I manage to qualify I will be happy. If I get 2:11:30 now it will be a confidence booster for Paris (2024 Olympics).

“To be honest missing the 2020 Olympics was so painful, I missed by 55 seconds,” said Ncube. The World Championships qualifying standards are the same as those used for the just ended Olympic Games.