Online Reporter
Ellina Mhlanga
Zimpapers Sports Hub
TAPIWANASHE MAKARAWU and Makanakaishe Charamba’s performances in the United States have given the National Athletics Association of Zimbabwe something to smile about ahead of the World Athletics Championships.
The two sprinters have, in the last months, proved their performance at the Olympic Games in France was no fluke, dominating the NCAA Indoor and Outdoor track and field events.
The recent event being the 2025 NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships where Makarawu won the 200m title in 19.84 seconds at Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon, and Charamba was second in 19.92 seconds.
Makarawu’s performance saw him smash the national record set by fellow Olympian Charamba, who placed second at the same meet.
Charamba had surpassed the 19.93 seconds national record held by Makarawu since last year April when running 19.92 seconds at the SEC Outdoor Track and Field Championships at the University of Kentucky in May.
NAAZ director of coaching, talent identification and development Lisimati Phakamile says they cannot wait to see how the two athletes perform at the World Athletics Championships in September.
The meet is running from September 13 to 21 in Tokyo, Japan.
“I want to first of all congratulate our athletes, specifically Makarawu, for setting a new national record in his own personal best time in 200m, where he clocked 19.84.
“We are quite excited and happy for him. We are also very happy and actually waiting to see how he will perform at the World Championships that are coming up in September in Tokyo.”
Phakamile believes the rise of Makarawu and Charamba serves as an inspiration to young and aspiring athletes to keep dreaming and working hard towards realising their goals.
“We can’t wait to see how these two guys will push each other at the World Championships.
“We are definitely expecting a podium performance there with these quality times.
“We are actually looking for and very hopeful, and believe that these two guys, the way they are pushing each other, the way they are chasing each other on the track will help us as a nation to chase again and chase other athletes at the World Championships,” said Phakamile.
Makarawu will be making his second appearance at the World Championships after competing in Budapest, Hungary in 2023.
For Charamba it will be his maiden appearance.
With the collegiate competition done, the NAAZ director of coaching said they are engaging the athletes’ coaches from the US, so that they continue working towards the World Championships.
“We are in talks with their coaches so that they continue in camp, they continue working hard so that we also try to peak again for the World Championships.
“They have been in top form and there is a slight lay-off where the number of competitions and events that they are attending is going to be reduced.
“But we are working with the coaches and hoping that these guys will be able to peak and replicate the same performance in September in Tokyo,” said Phakamile.
He acknowledged the coaches that have worked with the two athletes at various levels as well as their current coaches in the US.
Makarawu and Charamba will be joined by Vimbayi Maisvorewa on track in Tokyo.
She qualified for women’s 400m.
“We also have Vimbayi on the cards . . . She has worked very hard.
“She has been in good shape and good form in the 400m event.
“We are looking at her setting another national record and pushing herself to the new personal best times that she is looking at,” Phakamile said.
Marathon runners Tendayi Zimuto and Isaac Mpofu have also qualified.
Qualification is ongoing in some of the events including track and field.
