Online Reporter
Ellina Mhlanga, [email protected]
ZIMBABWE’S men’s 4x400m relay team took a giant leap towards qualification to the World Relays after finishing second at the Lefika International Relays in a time of 3 minutes 00.69 seconds.
The solid performance at the competition held in Gaborone, Botswana, saw the team also setting a new national record in the process.
The previous record was 3 minutes 00.79 seconds set in 1997.
But the quartet of captain Gerren Muwishi, Dennis Hove, Leeford Zuze and Thandazani Ndhlovu delivered a strong performance to surpass that record.
In breaking the national record, they also set themselves in a position to climb up the ladder on the Top List for the World Relays.
Going into the race, Zimbabwe were ranked 24th, with a time of 3 minutes 03.42 seconds, and occupying the final slot for qualification.
But with a time of 3 minutes 00.69 seconds, they are likely to move up into a more comfortable zone, which will guarantee their qualification to the World Relays due to take place on May 2 and 3 in Botswana.
Nigeria, who were their close competitors going into Saturday’s meet, ranked 26 came third in 3 minutes 02.98 seconds.
Kenya crossed the finish line in 3 minutes 00.34 seconds to win the race. The Kenyans went into the race ranked 10th with a time of 2 minutes 59.29 seconds.
Muwishi saluted his teammates for the solid performance in Botswana.
“The boys did well.
“We knew from our performance in Lesotho that Lefika would be something special, so we went out there, did our best and solidified our qualification. The National Record was the icing on the cake.
“There was still a bit of confusion after the race, so we didn’t really know what our time was. It was some 20 minutes later that we got confirmation and the gents were ecstatic,” said Muwishi.
The qualification window closes on April 5, and World Athletics is set to release the final list of the qualified teams on April 7.
There are six events on the World Relays programme — the women’s 4x100m, women’s 4x400m, men’s 4x100m, men’s 4x400m, mixed 4x100m and mixed 4x400m relays.
Twenty-four teams will be entered for each of the six events.
The top eight from last year’s World Championships will qualify for entry, while the hosts can enter one team in each event regardless of the entry conditions.
The remaining slots are determined by the Top List.
“We spoke just after the race to not let the time distract us. The bigger goal is the World Relays in Botswana.
“We learnt from last year, qualification means nothing. The important races are in May when we compete on the world’s stage,” Muwishi said.
Zimbabwe qualified and competed at last year’s World Relays in China.
However, they were disqualified on a technicality at the world stage.
Going into Saturday’s competition, the team had won the Maseru International Meet in 3 minutes 03.55 seconds, in Lesotho.
National Athletics Association of Zimbabwe president Tendayi Tagara said they would want the team to go into an early camp, soon after the World Athletics releases the final list.
“Good performance by the team.
“I knew they could run good times with three athletes running 45 seconds in the individual races.
“The plan is that as soon as we are declared qualified, we must go into camp early and run at the Grand Prix in Botswana, and have the team run at the National Championships as well.
“The trip to Lesotho was worth it,” said Tagara.
Zimbabwe also had a mixed 4x100m relay team made up of Rutendo Vushe, Samkeliso Ndebele, Daniel Magogo and Methembe Tshuma in Botswana.
They finished sixth in 42.97 seconds. This was the first time Naaz entered a mixed 4x100m relay team.
