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VETERAN Mutare long distance runner, Charles Soza is the only Manicaland athlete to beat the four minutes, 31 seconds deadline for him to qualify for the national four minutes mile run competition to be held in Harare on April 25. The battle hardened runner took part in the provincial four minutes mile run during Sunday’s provincial track and field competitions that were held at Sakubva Stadium in Mutare.
The exciting four minutes mile run was the major attraction when the 2015 edition of the Manicaland Athletics Board (MAB) track and field competition got underway.
The four minutes mile run will see participants that are able to complete the mile in less than four minutes qualifying for the national competitions to be held in the capital.
Leading beverage manufacturer, Coca-Cola is sponsoring the four-minute mile run contest and the Bulawayo-based national coordinator of the event, Dailis Bingadzdi, was present to witness the Manicaland qualifiers.
In Sunday’s four-minute mile run contest, Moses Mupenyadzi came second after crossing the finishing line in five minutes, four seconds while Zimbabwe Prison’s Blessing Chinyowa came third as he completed the race in five minutes, six seconds.
However, Mapenyadzi and Chinyowa together with other athletes, who missed the four minutes, 31 seconds mark, will now have another chance to make it to the national finals when the MAB hosts another contest on March 28.
MAB chairman, Joshua Matume, expressed hope that more athletes will be able to beat the four minutes 31 seconds deadline when the province holds the second and final qualifier on March 28.
“We are indeed happy with the level of competition witnessed in all other event apart from the four minutes mile run. However, we are hopeful that more athletes will be able to beat the four minutes 31 seconds deadline when the province holds the second and final qualifier on March 28,” said Matume.
Apart from Soza who has made it this year, Mutare-Haarlem’s Lyno ‘Bola’ Muchena is one of Mutare athletes known to have qualified for the national competitions in the history of the four minutes a mile run contest
In other competitions held during the MAB track and field event, Ruvarashe Muzinde scooped pole position in the senior women’s 100m dash as she crossed the finishing line in 12 seconds, eight split seconds, while Knowledge Chikwanha came second after crossing the line in 13 seconds, 2 split seconds.
In the 100m senior males competition, Michael Goro came first after completing the race in 11 seconds, 28 split seconds, while Delroy Mamboeninga weighed in second position as he completed the race in 11 seconds, 30 split seconds.
Olive Magodhlo was third after completing the race in 11 seconds, 40 split seconds.
Blessing Waison won the 5 000m race ahead of second placed Mapenyadzi.
Online Reporter