adminSikhumbuzo Moyo Senior Sports Reporter
THREE more athletes have qualified for the annual Coca-Cola ZITF Four-Minute Mile race following a qualifying event held at White City Stadium during the third place Independence Cup playoff on Monday. This brings to 33 the number of confirmed competitors for this year’s meet which is set for April 30 at the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair Arena.
Thamsanqa Ndlovu, Bismark Ndlovu and Takudzwa Chiguda all booked their places after clocking four minutes, 24 seconds, four minutes, 26 seconds and four minutes, 30 seconds respectively. The other four athletes who took part failed to run within the stipulated time. The trio will now join defending champion Trust Chidomaya, Kelvin Gundani of Ziscosteel, Willard Mutasa of HQ One Brigade, Amon Moyo and Barberton Mhlanga of ZRP Fairbridge. Others are Jonathan Chinyoka from Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Service as well as the Sparrows trio of Hlalani Ngwenya, Ntando Maphosa and Duma Mkhwananzi among athletes who have qualified from this region.
According to the itinerary of the race, semi-finals will be held at White City Stadium on April 29 with the final set for the following day.
“If we still have more athletes coming in, we’re likely going to have one more qualifying race before the semi-finals. We’re targeting between 15 and 20 athletes for the final showdown,” said event coordinator and athletics administrator Dailes Bingadadi.
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