Online Reporter
Ellina Mhlanga-Zimpapers Sports Hub
WHEN Trey Chimunya crossed the finish line in Mauritius, the clock stopped at 10.34 seconds.
For the Zimbabwean sprinter, it meant more than a gold medal.
It meant qualification for the World Under-20 Championships and another step towards the dream every young athlete carries, graduating from a promising junior contestant to an elite senior competitor.
At 19, Chimunya represents both the success and the challenge facing Zimbabwean athletics.
The country continues to produce talented youngsters capable of winning regional medals, but the bigger test is ensuring athletes such as Chimunya are still competing for Zimbabwe five or 10 years from now.
That is the question confronting athletics administrators, coaches and institutions as another promising generation emerges.
The Southern African Confederation of Athletics Under-18 and Under-20 Championships have come and gone.
Eleven countries from the region, excluding South Africa, converged in Mauritius for the biennial competition, with Reunion participating as a guest nation.
The championships are designed to develop young athletes and prepare them for the next level.
Zimbabwe returned home with 19 medals — seven gold, nine silver and three bronze — from a team of 22 athletes.
The performance was another reminder of the talent the country continues to produce.
The question now is how that talent can be retained and developed into podium contenders at senior level.
Speaking on the sidelines of the championships, Mauritius Athletics Association president Didier Guillemin stressed the importance of investing in young athletes.
“It’s extremely important to take care of our youth because they will be the future athletes. If we take care of them now, we can make sure they become future leaders in athletics,” he said.
“We know Africa is already doing a great job with senior athletes. If we take care of our youth now, slowly but surely, we can dominate the world one day.
“We should take Botswana as an example. Botswana is from the Southern Region. They now have an Olympic champion, a world champion. They won the World Relays in the 4x400m.
“So, we should be inspired by that and try to reach their level.”
Zimbabwe’s performances at junior level have rarely been in doubt.
The country has consistently excelled at regional competitions such as the African Union Sports Council Region 5 Youth Games and the Confederation of Schools Sport Association of Southern Africa championships.
At the last Region 5 Youth Games, athletics contributed more than 30 medals to Zimbabwe’s overall tally.
National head coach for youth and junior teams Briad Nhubu believes the foundations behind those performances were laid years ago.
