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Mzingaye Sibanda Sports Reporter
SANELE Ncube from Tsholotsho’s Jimila Athletics Academy won the girls’ Under-18 Bulawayo Province cross-country championships category at Luveve High School yesterday. Ncube finished first in the 6km race in 24 minutes 53.82 seconds. She is coached by long forgotten Tsholotsho athlete Brenda Banda who established the club in October last year. Banda said she was happy to see one of her athletes rising to the occasion.
“My target is to identify and recruit local talent in rural areas, I want these youngsters to be recognised by national selectors, now I’m happy that Ncube managed to show what she is capable of,” said Banda.
Ncube has already booked herself a place in the bus to the national cross-country championships to be held in Harare next month. The Tsholotsho rising star Ncube shrugged off the competition of Taterara sisters Cynthia and Sandra who came second and third in 24 minutes 57.58 seconds and 25 minutes 28.36 seconds.
Cynthia and Sandra finished third and fourth respectively in the first round qualifies that were held at Nketa Park last week.
In the Under-18 boys’ Barbertew Mhlanga repeated his Nketa Park heroics as he won the 8km race in 30 minutes 16.54 seconds.
National defending champion Isaac Mpofu won the senior men’s 12km race in 41 minutes 04.14 seconds beating Hwange and Matabeleland North’s Phathisa Ngwabi 41 minutes 12.43 seconds.
Results
Under-16
Boys (6 km): 1. Proud Ncube (Mbonqane, 30mins 12.74sec), 2. Dumo Mkhwananzi (Luveve High School, 30mins 47.66sec), 3. Alicate Matiza (Mpopoma High School, 31mins 53.68sec) 4. Mgcini Ncube (Sparrows, 32mins 05.54sec) 5. Collen Pedzisai (Sikhulile High School, 32mins 24.64sec)
Girls (6km): 1. Patience Gurure (Emakhandeni High School, 25mins 01.60sec) 2. Sikhathele Nkomazana (Mpopoma High School 30mins 31.42secs) 3. Minenhle Moyo (Emakhandeni High School, 30mins 52.15sec) 4. Loveness Chunda (Mpopoma High School, 31mins 13.15secs) 5. Gugulethu Sibanda (Mpopoma High School, 31mins 28.97secs)
Under-18
Girls (6km): 1.Sanele Ncube (Jimila, 24min 53.82secs) 2. Cynthia Taterera (Mpopoma High School, 24mins 57.58secs) 3. Sandra Taterera (Mpopoma High School, 25min 28.36secs) 4. Thandoluhle Ncube (Mbongane, 29min13.93sec) 5. Peance Nkala (Ihlathi 31mins 06.23secs)
Boys (8km): 1. Babertew Mhlanga (Northlea High School, 30mins 16.59secs) 2. Emmanuel Mpofu (Ihlathi, 30mins 34.84secs) 3. Obert Ncube (Ihlosi, 30mins 37.29secs) 4. Victor Muza (Mpopoma High School, 32mins 14.18secs) 5. Passmore Tawuraya (Mpopoma High School, 32mins 37.64sec)
Under-20
Boys (8km): 1. Abraham Ncube (Sparrows, 29mins 25.48secs) 2. Blessed Ruhuchu (Ihlosi, 29mins 53.24secs) 3. Trust Mangi (Sparrows, 30mins 05.08sec) 4. Vincence Dube (Sparrows, 30mins 28.46secs) 5. Dyson Sihwa (Sparrows, 30mins 33.21secs)
Girls (8km): Nobukhosi Dube (Sparrows, forfeited the race)
Seniors
Women (12km): 1. Rosetta Mandevu (Bulawayo Striders, 34mins 12.78secs), 2. Anne Chirisa (ZRP Fairbridge, 35mins 31.86secs) 3. Brenda Banda ( Matapula, 36mins 31.86secs) 4. Nomsa Silenje (independent, 37mins 06.23secs)
Men(12km): 1. Mpofu Isaac (ZRP Fairbridge, 41mins 04.14secs) 2. Phathisa Ngwabi (Hwange, 41mins 12.43secs) 3. Ngonidzashe Ncube (ZRP Fairbridge, 41min 23.43secs) 4. Bright Siwela (Sparrows, 44mins 09.12secs) 5. Thando Maphosa (Sparrows, 44mins 54.26secs)
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