Online Reporter
Ellina Mhlanga-Zimpapers Sports Hub
TEAM Zimbabwe’s coach from the just-ended Southern African Confederation of Athletics Under-18 and Under-20 Championships Aaron Whyte believes that the country is on track with its development efforts.
This comes after a strong showing by Zimbabwean youths and juniors at the two-day SACA meet staged in Mauritius.
The team returned home with 19 medals, and the performance comes at a time when the country is still reflecting on the recent achievements at the senior level, as the men’s 4x400m relay team were crowned champions at the Africa Championships last month in Ghana.
Zimbabwe picked up four medals at the senior championships — one gold, two silver, and one bronze — which was an improvement from the 2024 edition when they returned home with only two silver medals in Cameroon.
Going into the continental meet in Ghana, the 4x400m relay team had placed fifth at the World Relays held in Botswana, earning their ticket to next year’s World Championships in Beijing, China.
They also set a new national record of 2 minutes 59.01 seconds in the process.
And as the youth and junior athletes took part at the SACA championships, they proved they were not there to just make numbers, claiming seven gold, nine silver, and three bronze medals.
“Like I have been saying, this team that we have here, especially the Under-18s, this is the foundation of our athletics.
“We know the athletes who are in this age group are being taken care of by very good coaches, experienced coaches, and grounded coaches.
“And I know a lot of stakeholders have been showing interest in this particular group, from SRC (Sports and Recreation Commission), ZOC (Zimbabwe Olympic Committee), NAAZ (National Athletics Association of Zimbabwe), and even the government and everyone involved.
“Even our private partners have been showing interest in this particular group,” said Whyte.
The regional championships held after every two years remain a key platform for exposure and development of young athletes.
Out of the 22 athletes, six were youths —Kebonyemosemane Ndebele, Calvin Banga, Malachi Mafunga, Tanatswa Nyamukondiwa, PraiseGod Nyamulepa and Delight Maravanyika.
The likes of Nyamukondiwa, Ndebele, Banga and Nyamulepa had some outstanding performances picking up medals in their respective events.
Ndebele claimed gold in the Under-18 men’s 800m and Nyamukondiwa won gold in the Under-18 men’s 100m.
Banga and Nyamulepa got silver medals in the Under-18 men’s 400m hurdles and Under-18 women’s 100m respectively.
Some of the athletes, mainly the juniors, were also chasing entry standards for the forthcoming World Under-20 Championships due to take place from August 5 to 9 in the United States. And sprinter Trey Chimunya clocked 10.34 seconds in the Under-20 men’s 100m, beating the qualification time of 10.50 seconds.
“It’s something that we were expecting, considering how he’s been training, how he’s been running.
“I know he’s been working very well with his club coach, and the results are showing,” said Whyte.
