Online Reporter
Ellina Mhlanga-Zimpapers Sports Hub
THE national men’s athletics 4x400m relay team return to action today when they take to the track at the Lefika International Relays today in Botswana seeking to seal qualification for the 2026 World Relays.
Captain Gerren Muwishi, Leeford Zuze, Thandazani Ndhlovu and Dennis Hove make the team.
They will take their quest for glory when they race at the National Stadium in Gaborone, Botswana. The National Athletics Association of Zimbabwe are also fielding a mixed 4x100m relay team this time around.
It is made up of Rutendo Vushe, Samkeliso Ndebele, Daniel Magogo and Methembe Tshuma.
This is the first time that NAAZ have sent into competition a mixed relay team and they are hoping they can also run one of the fastest times and make the top 24 for World Relays set for May.
For the 4x400m, this will be their second competition, having competed at the Maseru International Meet last weekend in Lesotho.
They won the race in 3 minutes 03.55seconds.
Speaking before their departure to Botswana, Muwishi said they are geared for the challenge.
“I think the biggest thing we have done for each other is to encourage each other that Lesotho was not our best. We can be better.
“But considering the conditions we had in Lesotho, I think the boys are geared up.
“They know that if we get a bit of a challenge and we get better conditions race-wise, they will obviously be able to hit the times that we want.”
Twenty-four countries will be entered for each of the six events that will be on the programme at the World Relays.
And Zimbabwe are ranked 24 with a time of 3 minutes 03.42 seconds, the final spot for qualification on the Top List. But with several countries ranked outside the top 24 also chasing qualification, Zimbabwe have to push to lower their time, to maintain or move to a better ranking to ensure they are in for the forthcoming world competition.
Botswana have already qualified as hosts.
Other countries competing at the Lefika Relays today in the different events include Nigeria, Kenya, Zambia, Lesotho, South Africa and hosts Botswana.
Botswana have already qualified as hosts.
“I think our biggest threat right now is Nigeria, because Nigeria is number 26, so, they are the closest to us from the countries that seem to be competing in the 4x400m.
“They obviously want to qualify in the 4x400m because you can’t travel all the way from up there to down here just for nonsense. It’s obviously business.
“So, as it is at the end of the day, we are just there to measure ourselves against everyone and hope that we get the result that we have been wanting,” said Muwishi.
“I guess for us, it’s just about getting the times. We need a 3:01, a 3:02. We will be comfortable in the top 20, just not last, because as it is, being on the fence is not safe.
“In Europe, people could just wake up and run a 3:03.41, and we will be knocked out of the race. We just need to make sure that we make this one count.”
However, the Zimbabwean team captain said they are not putting themselves under pressure.
“The moment you get pressure in track and field, that’s when you run slow times. The one thing that I told the boys before we went into the race, regardless of the conditions, is that let’s enjoy the race,” Muwishi said.
Zuze weighed in to say they are staying positive ahead of today’s race.
“So far everything is okay. We are not changing anything on the team.
“In Maseru we didn’t get the competition we wanted…It’s like we were competing on our own.
“If we get a good competition, a bit of pressure from the other teams, I think we can run a better time than we did in Maseru.
“And I think we can get the push we want in Botswana,” said Zuze.
The qualifying window closes on April 5.
