Online Reporter
Innocent Kurira, Zimpapers Sports Hub
THE fifth White City Stars Academy Track and Field Championships will light up Bulawayo’s White City Stadium on October 11.
Organisers are urging athletes to register before the October 5 deadline, warning that late entries won’t be accepted.
“Registration is strictly by pre-entry and will close on the 5th of October. No entries will be accepted on the day of the competition.
“Those interested in participating must ensure they register by the deadline,” said competition director and academy founder, Manuel Mpofu.
Mpofu said the meet has grown steadily in stature.
“Every year, we enhance the quality and organisation of our meetings to ensure athletes, coaches, spectators, and other stakeholders see the value in our product,” he said.
Bulawayo Athletics Board chairman, Watson, praised the event’s consistency.
“We are grateful to Manuel Mpofu for his commitment to keeping this competition on the athletics calendar. This is now the fifth edition, and just like previous years, we hope to see even more athletes, including those from outside Zimbabwe, take part,” said Madanyika.
The championships will feature a full day of competition with sprints, middle and long distance races and relays.
Events include the 100m, 110m hurdles, 200m, 400m, 400m hurdles, 800m, 1,500m, 3,000m, 5,000m, 4x100m relay and 4x400m relay. Field events cover long jump, triple jump, high jump, javelin, shot put and discus.
Entry fees are pegged at US$5 for relay teams, US$2 for senior individual events and US$1 for junior individual events.
Since its 2021 launch, the meet has pulled competitors from Bulawayo, Matabeleland North, Matabeleland South and further afield. Support over the years has come from figures such as former national triple jump record holder Ndabezinhle Mdhlongwa and Arnold Payne’s Africa Children’s Hope Foundation. Mobile network operator Econet has also chipped in with T-shirts and other accessories.
The inaugural edition drew just over 100 athletes, and organisers expect an even bigger turnout this year as the event continues to grow in stature on the national athletics calendar.
