Online Reporter
Ellina Mhlanga in ST PIERRE, Mauritius
ZIMBABWE continued with their good showing on the final day of the Southern African Confederation of Athletics Under-18 and Under-20 Championships yesterday to wrap up their participation with a total of 19 medals.
The performance saw them finishing overall third with seven gold medals, nine silver, and three bronze.
Botswana were ranked first with a total of 20 medals — 10 gold, three silver, and seven bronze, and Mauritius amassed 32 medals — eight gold, 10 silver, and 14 bronze.
Just like on the first day, team Zimbabwe made sure their presence was felt yesterday at the Cote d’Or National Sports Complex, with Tatenda Chindowa stepping up in the Under-20 men’s high jump to clinch gold with a 2.10m jump.
Chindowa, a silver medallist at the CAA Under-18/Under-20 Championships last year in Nigeria was excited by his performance.
“I feel really good. Finally, you know, last year I collected two silvers at my first international meeting, so a bit of preparation and I came back and finally got my gold.
“If I am going to be honest, I knew I was going to win. It was just me versus me. I just wanted to exceed my own expectations and things of that nature,” Chindowa said.
Kebonyemosemane Ndebele picked up gold in the Under-18 men’s 800m in 1 minute 58.36 seconds with a brilliant performance that saw him leading from the first lap, and he never looked back.
It was also a good day on the track for Nataly Shoko, Martha Chipuriro, Calvin Banga and Trey Chimunya as they picked silver medals in their respective events on the final day.
Shoko placed second in the Under-20 women’s hurdles in 65.50 seconds while Banga competing in the Under-18 men’s 400m hurdles finished second in 56.79 seconds.
Shoko, who missed out on a medal in 400m on Saturday, was happy with her performance.
“I am feeling good. I am pretty sure I just ran my PB just now and my season best just now.
“I feel like I could have done better, I really wanted the gold, but progress is progress, and I thank God for helping me finish this race uninjured.
“I feel that we can still move forward from here,” said Shoko.
Shoko was part of the Under-20 4x400m mixed relay team that got gold on Saturday.
The other members were Anesu Nyahuma, Emmanuel Uriga, and Nenyasha Chihora.
Chimunya clocked 21.13 seconds in the Under-20 men’s 200m to place second in the final yesterday.
Chipuriro posted a time of 2 minutes 14.69 seconds in the Under-20 women’s 800m.
Tawananyasha Chakonda was also back in action to claim bronze in the Under-18 men’s long jump.
The 4x100m mixed relay team consisting of Panashe Mutenure, Hayley Chingono, Uriga and Shalom Sendi got bronze with a time of 45.41 seconds.
Botswana won the race in 45.24 seconds, and Mauritius clocked 45.35 seconds to place second.
Team Zimbabwe coach Aaron Whyte was impressed by the overall performance.
“I don’t think anybody expected us to come and get the number of medals that we got but I would like to say well done to Team Zimbabwe.
“This was actually a very good outing and we are very pleased,” said Whyte.
Zimbabwe had 11 medals going into the final day of the competition and added eight more yesterday.
“It was a very tough day.
“The competition level here was very high, and for us to get the number of medals that we got today (yesterday), it’s such a huge achievement, and like I said earlier, this is actually beyond expectation,” said Whyte.
Other countries that took part at the regional meet include Namibia, Zambia, Madagascar, Seychelles, Eswatini, Lesotho, Malawi and Comoros.
