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Ellina Mhlanga
Senior Sports Reporter
THE National Athletics Association of Zimbabwe junior and youth athletes to compete at the combined Under-18 and Under-20 Championships in Ndola, Zambia, are wrapping up their preparations ahead of their departure tomorrow.
The National Athletics Association of Zimbabwe are targeting to field about 50 youth (Under-18) and juniors (Under-20) athletes at the continental competition that is running from April 29 to May 3.
They got into camp on Saturday in Harare.
They have been training at the National Sports Stadium B Arena and are expected to hold their last session at Allan Wilson today.
Head coach for the juniors, Aaron Whyte, said they have had fruitful training sessions with the athletes for the few days they have been in camp.
“It’s not like there is much that we are supposed to be doing in camp. Most of these kids are coming from major competitions like Nash and then we had the national junior championships in Bulawayo. So most of them are at their peak now and they are performing well.
“What we just need to do in camp is to polish a few things, work on techniques, team cohesion and all that. But otherwise in terms of preparations, I think the guys are ready.”
The juniors had to meet the Confederation of African Athletics qualifying standards as well as NAAZ standards. But the youth had to meet the national association’s qualifying standards only as part of the selection process.
For the juniors, in events that they did not have athletes qualifying, Whyte said they picked the best they have based on performances.
“So what we did it’s not like we just picked to say we want to fill places. But we did a research and then we looked at the statistics and then we discovered we actually have got a chance of getting medals in those events.
“Where we realised we had no chance at all, like Under-20, the juniors, ladies high jump, we don’t have anyone doing that because we looked at the height that they cleared and then we looked at the continent, then we realised that we were lagging behind.
“Where we have placed athletes we are hopeful of getting medals or being in the finals,” said Whyte.
Some of the medal hopefuls for the juniors include Panashe Nhenga, Denzel Simusialela, David Nyamufarira, Edwin Nyamutswa, Anesu Makuwatsine, Linnette Zembe, Privilege Bower, Samkeliso Ndebele, Thelma Majinjwa, Brenda Njodzi and Rujeko Munetsi.
The coaches are also hopeful of the Under-18s and most of the athletes in this age-group will be competing at the continental championships for the first time.
The likes of sprinters Hayley Chingono and Valentine Datawa expressed their excitement ahead of the meet.
“I have never been to any of the big competitions, I have only done school competitions and I feel excited and scared at the same time. I am learning from the juniors . . . I am hoping for gold, going onto the podium,” said Chingono.
Datawa said she has been working hard for the championships.
“I am ready, I have been working hard and have been working on correcting my mistakes during training. This is my first time and I am actually happy because that was my dream, I have always wanted to represent Zimbabwe,” said Datawa. One of the sprints coaches, Faith Dube, said they are looking forward to a competitive event.
“So far looking at the condition of the athletes, I feel the athletes are in better shape as compared to the last time. They are well motivated and they are doing so well so far.
“What I can say is countries like Botswana, Nigeria, South Africa . . . looking at their times and everything, they are also in a better shape. So we are likely to face a good competition,” said Dube.
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