Chronicle Editor
Ricky Zililo, Senior Sports Reporter
ZIMBABWE’S sprinting pair of Clinton Muunga and Samukeliso Ndebele have been certified fit for the World Junior Championships set for Nairobi, Kenya, from August 17-22 after undergoing personal training sessions.
Muunga from Matabeleland South and Samukeliso Ndebele from Matabeleland North are the only two athletes that qualified for the global meet, also known as World Athletics Under-20 Championships.
The two are expected to leave the country for the competitions on Sunday after undergoing Covid-19 tests in Harare.
The 19-year-old Muunga qualified for both the 100m and 200m races after running qualifying races in 10.46 seconds and 21,21 seconds respectively.
The qualifying time for the junior men is 10,58 seconds for 100m and 21,38 seconds for 200m.
Ndebele (18) qualified for the women’s 200m World Junior Championships finals after registering 23.30 seconds. The standard
qualifying time for the competition is 24,35 seconds.
Lisimathi Phakamile, National Athletics Association of Zimbabwe national director of coaching and talent identification development, said the pair is raring to go.
“Clinton and Samukeliso are in good shape and ready for the championships. Muunga trained under my supervision with Silas Muringani taking Samukeliso through her paces. I have no doubt that our athletes will perform well in the games,” said Phakamile.
He said lack of qualifying events due to Covid-19 denied junior athletes an opportunity to attempt qualification for the global championships.
“We could’ve sent a number of athletes, but we couldn’t hold qualifying races after the one we had in June as soon after that all sporting activities were banned. Hopefully in future our athletes will be able to qualify in time,” said Phakamile. — @ZililoR
Bongani Ndlovu
Online Reporter