adminPhineas Mukwazo
FAIRBRIDGE’S John Payarira beat a field of nine athletes to win this year’s edition of the Bulawayo Athletics Board (BAB) cross country championships staged at Nketa Park in Mpopoma yesterday. Payarira hit the tape in 41 minutes 24,98 seconds to claim the senior men’s race. His teammate Trust Chidomaya was second in 41:39,14 while Sparrows’s Hlalani Ngwenya (43:24,71) was third in the race which was run over 12km.
There was only one participant in the senior women, Sophia Chihama of Fairbridge who finished the 8km race in 36 minutes 06,11 seconds.
BAB chairman Manuel Mpofu was impressed by the attendance at the event which doubled up as the first of two selection events for athletes who will represent the province at the national finals in Harare next month.
The other selection event will be staged at the same venue on 24 January.
“I am very impressed by the turnout especially from clubs and schools in Bulawayo. They always keep on supporting us as BAB. The schools were also using this event to prepare for the national championships which will be staged in Harare. We were also using the competition to select our provincial team,’’ said Mpofu.
Meanwhile, all is set for the Bulawayo province track and field championships to be held at White City Stadium this morning.
“The preparations for this year’s event are on course. We are expecting participants from clubs in Harare and Kwekwe. Most primary and secondary schools in Bulawayo have confirmed participation as they want to use this event for their schools’ competitions,’’ said Mpofu.
Mpofu also confirmed that most of the high profile athletes in Bulawayo such as Yvonne Vanhuvaone, Sukoluhle Mlalazi, Simbarashe Taderera, Thando Maphosa, Salani Ngwenya and Dumo Mkhwananzi will be in attendance at the competitions which also kick start the selection for the Coca-Cola 4 minute miler which is a regular feature at annual Zimbabwe International Trade Fair in Bulawayo.
Also in attendance at White City would be UK-based 800m runner Alistair Madondo, who is managed by former Sunday Mail Sports Editor Goodwill Zunidza. The 19-year-old Madondo is eager to establish himself as one of the rising stars in Zimbabwe.
According to Mpofu today’s event will also be used to identify athletes who will represent the country at the African Senior Championships set for Durban in July.
Cross country results
Senior Men (12km)
J Payarira (41:24,98)
T Chidomaya (41:39,14)
H Ngwenya (43:24,71)
R Sveto (44:07,59
T Mabvira (45:16,47)
Senior Women(8km)
S Chihama (36:06,11)
Junior Men (8km)
D Mkwananzi (26:41,03)
B Mhlanga (27:45,65)
W Mangwiro (27:56,91)
D Mlilo (28:11,00)
T Mpofu (28:35,69)
Junior Women (6km)
L Ncube (25:07,21)
C Taderera (25:48,78)
S Taderera (25:55,18)
U Dambureni (26:58)
L Musina (27:40,46)
Under-14 Girls (2km)
P Mapfumo (9;01,56)
E Banda (9:09,30)
M Nhlambelo (9:32,49)
T Majazi (9:54:47)
S Gwatinyama (10:13,09)
Under-14 Boys (4km)
H Sibanda (15:32,79)
T Ndlovu (15:47,01)
L Matukutira (15:53,15)
M Ndlovu (16:02,17)
B Chigwende (16:04,09)
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