Online Reporter
Innocent Kurira
WHITE City Stadium in Bulawayo was a hive of speed, sweat and spirit as athletes from across Zimbabwe descended on Bulawayo for the White City Stars Athletics Club Track and Field Championships.
The event, which has fast become one of the country’s most exciting dates on the athletics calendar, drew participants from all corners of Zimbabwe and they came ready to light up the track.
Chairperson of the Bulawayo Athletics Board, Watson Madanyika, said he was thrilled by the turnout and organisation.
“We are happy to have athletes from all over Zimbabwe taking part,” he said. “We’re grateful to the organisers for making sure this event is now a permanent feature on our athletics calendar.”
The day’s highlight was the 800m finals, where fierce battles unfolded both on the men’s and women’s tracks.
In the women’s race, Blessed Mpatwe lived up to her name, storming to gold in 2 minutes 35.89 seconds. Ruvarashe Mandu came second in 2:40.48 while Anna Sanga crossed the line third in 2:48.74.
The men’s 800m final was a thriller, with Stanley Manga proving unstoppable as he clocked 1:59.07 to grab gold. Mengezi Sibanda pushed hard but settled for silver in 2:00.43, and Mthokozisi Mboni claimed bronze in 2:01.91.
In the field, Brandon Mukwena soared highest in the men’s high jump, clearing 1.80 metres to take top spot and win the crowd’s applause.
The championships have become a beacon for emerging talent, offering young athletes a platform to showcase their skill and gain national recognition.
“This is about spotting the next big names in Zimbabwean athletics,” said an official trackside.
As the sun blazed down on White City, the cheers told the story, the future of local athletics is bright and it’s sprinting straight out of Bulawayo.
