adminOnly the top three athletes in the Under-19 age-group for both boys and girls will progress to the global event. The team will be led by African defending champion in the
Under-19 girls, Laurelle Brown and national team coach, Wayne Davidson said they are fielding a young team for development but expect Brown to make it for the World Championships.
The team has begun their preparations for the championships and will resume training next Monday.
“We have already started preparations but everyone has gone home for the holiday and we will regroup on Monday and mostly we will be in Harare and Nyanga.
“Defending champion Laurelle Brown will resume her battle with South Africa’s Championships winner Jodie Berry and a host of French based North Africans all intent on a top three finish that earns automatic qualification to the World championships that will be staged on the famous Hyde Park Olympic Course.
“We expect her to do very well and qualify for the world championships.
“She will for once have the company of Zimbabwe’s best Under-17 athletes Skye Davidson and Serena Rendell. Davidson a two time African Under-15 champion has an outside chance of the World championships qualification if she can improve her swim time and replicate the burst of running speed that she is now becoming famous for. The others are still young and we don’t really have any expectations.
It’s just for development, so we don’t expect much,” said Davidson.
Davidson said in the boys division, former Under-15 African Champion, Drew Williams is battling to recover from a broken toe and faces a fitness test before his entry is confirmed but indicated that Marcus Philp will be keen to step into the top ranking at Drew’s expense. The national team coach, however, noted the boys are likely to face tough competition from countries such as Tunisia, Morocco and defending champions, Mauritius.
“Philp will be hardly pressed to medal in this very competitive group that has a strong field of Moroccan and Tunisian athletes and defending Under-19 champions, Mauritius,” said Davidson.
In the Under-15 division, Zimbabwe will be hoping for Gideon Benade and Gabby De Chassart to reclaim the titles vacated by Williams and Davidson in the boys and girls categories respectively who have now moved up to the World junior level Under-19’’s.
Davidson said the team includes athletes that have been shortlisted as potential candidates for next year’s Youth Olympic Games set for Nanjing, China. “The expanded team includes athletes shortlisted as potential candidates for next year’s Youth Olympics as this event forms part of the IOC (International Olympic Committee) qualification criteria for the Youth Games,” said Davidson.
Team
Boys’ Under-19: Marcus Philp, Drew Williams, Clemens Anschutz.
Girls’ Under-19: Laurelle Brown (captain), Skye Davidson, Serena Rendell, Helen Mitchell, Karishma Patel, Rebecca Duncan.
Boys’ Under-15: Gideon Benade, Mitchell Kaye, Rupert Anschutz.
Girls’ Under-15: Gabby De Chassart, Tyla Storrer, Cami Davidson.
Online Reporter