Online Reporter
Lovemore Dube, [email protected]
THE Bulawayo Metropolitan Athletics Board will stage a do-or-die track and field championship at White City Stadium on 7 February, where athletes will be ranked up to 10th, especially in the sprints.
This is the first step towards assembling relay teams for the bid to take part in the World Relays Championships to be hosted by Botswana in March.
This was confirmed yesterday by the National Athletics Association of Zimbabwe, head of technical affairs, Phakamile Lisimati.
“I advised provincial heads last year at the association’s annual general meeting that I would like to have all athletes who run the 100, 200 and 400m assembling in Bulawayo for the ranking event,” said Lisimati.
He said the idea was to create a platform where a national qualifier is a serious event demanding participation by all athletes who want to be considered for national teams. He said he is aware that there are some athletes running outside the country in different environments to others.
“Just last weekend, some athletes ran in South Africa and we had to clock 45 seconds in the 400m. We would like them to come to Bulawayo on 7 February to run and be considered in our long list of probable 4×100 and 4x400m relay teams.
“I have been in touch with Brian Dzingai to try and get those in the US, especially in the 100m, he would have an idea who is ranked how,” said Lisimati.
Athletes in the US are expected to dominate the 4x100m as the best sprinters in short distances are all based abroad, with David Nyamufarira with the fastest 100m over the past year of 10,01 seconds and Denzel Siamusalela (10,03) apart from Makanakaishe Charamba’s 200m of 19,92 seconds and Tapiwanashe Makarawu (19,84).
“Basically, we need to have athletes on our database registered in order to make meritocratic decisions as to who gets to be in the relay teams. So, when our athletes meet on 7 February, we expect to see all those who want to have a claim in the relays in attendance.
“So, the competition mark is to post good times, heights and distances to be considered in a top ranking that shall be the basis for national team consideration,” said Lisimati.
A good attendance is expected in the Bulawayo Championships with the schools action in full swing, a lot is in store and fierce competition could be the order of the day.
“So, we are saying the Bulawayo event shall be the ultimate competition for the World Relays considerations,” said Lisimati
Botswana will play host to the World Relay Championships and Zimbabwe is bidding to have two teams in the event.
A 4x400m relay team made largely of home grown talent is in the making while the 4x100m is most likely to consist of athletes based in the US where legend Brian Dzingai, a fourth place finisher in the Beijing Olympics is in charge.
Good performances by Makarawu and Takudzwa Chiyangwa in the 300m, have given Naaz several options even in the 4x400m relay team.
