adminEllina Mhlanga Sports Reporter
ZIMBABWE’S team for the IAAF World Under-20 championships will go a step further in finalising their preparations for the event when they take part in the Mashonaland Central Athletics Board track and field championships today at Trojan Mine.
This will be their last competitive meet before their departure to Finland set for next Saturday.
The World championships are running from July 10 to 15 in Tampere.
Seven athletes – Ngoni Chadyiwa, Norman Mukwada, Blessing Nyandoro, Leon Tafirenyika, Tinotenda Matiyenga, Dickson Kapandura and Simbarashe Maketa – qualified for the global meet.
However, Maketa pulled out due to school commitments and is also among the top athletes likely to represent the country at the forthcoming African Youth Games coming this July as well in Algeria.
Director in charge of junior development Silas Muringani, who is travelling with the team, said today’s meet gives them a platform to make their final assessment of the team.
“The preparations are shaping up well. So far no injury worries. Tomorrow’s meet presents an opportunity for final assessment of the real team.
“Maketa is out of the trip to Finland because of school commitments. The rest of the team is looking good.
“I am happy with the preparations the athletes had with their various coaches.
“We would have wished for more time with the athletes, but with school commitments and the geographical locations of the athletes, this was not possible,” said Muringani.
Matiyenga is set to take part in 100m, while Kapandura will participate in 200m.
In 400m, Zimbabwe will field Chadyiwa and Tafirenyika. Mukwada is set to compete in the 400m hurdles. The trio will be joined by Nyandoro to make up the 4x400m relay team. Zimbabwe is also hoping to field a 4x100m relay team.
But Muringani said the withdrawal of Maketa is likely to have a negative impact on the 4x100m relay team they were looking forward to field in Finland.
“Maketa was a core member of the 4x100m relay team. His withdrawal is a huge blow to the team as we can’t field a relay team in the short distances and also we might miss out in appearance in the progressive events in 200m.
“We hoped for a place in the final with him as he had the best qualifying time in 200m,” said Muringani.
The National Athletics Association of Zimbabwe have said the team’s participation at the World Under-20 is key to their 2020 target for the Olympic Games to be staged in Tokyo, Japan.
Online Reporter