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THE National Athletics Association of Zimbabwe believe athletes who have run 45 seconds in the 400m and are now being sent to Lesotho to compete in the 4x400m relay on Saturday could make a huge impact.
Phakamile Lisimati, NAAZ’s head of technical, on Sunday said it is the first time that they are sending a team with so many athletes with very good times.
Zimbabwe is sending five athletes — Thandazani Ndlovu, Denis Hove, Gerren Muwishi, Leeford Zuze and Ropafadzo Mzondo. He said the team, which is scheduled to leave tomorrow, is going to compete in Maseru with a view of making the grade for the World Relays to be held in Botswana in May this year.
“NAAZ is sending a team to Maseru, we are sending a team of five athletes. We have selected these guys to go and pick up a time for the 4x400m relay. We are going to have two races in the next fortnight,” said Lisimati.
The bid is part of a broader plan to have a team participating in the Los Angeles Olympics.
NAAZ have been clear that they want to send double figures to sport’s highest level competition to be hosted by the United States of America in 2028.
Ndlovu has the best time over the distance, 45.30 seconds run in Pretoria last month, Zuze 45.62 and Hove 45.83.
Muwishi has run a 46 seconds and Mzondo 47.
“This is the first time ever in as many years where our local coaches have produced 45 seconds athletes. It is an amazing feat,” said Lisimati.
He said that was achieved under very tough conditions.
“We want to commend their coaches, the boys are doing well, we wish these boys qualify for the World Relays and represent the country,” said Lisimati.
Speaking from Plumtree where he is in camp with the Matabeleland South athletics team for the National Association of Secondary School Heads Championships set for Prince Edward High School in Harare next week, Lisimati said the relays do not have set qualifying standards.
“The main reason why we are sending a team to Maseru, we need to pick up a time to work on from so that we are ranked properly in the world. World Athletics does not have qualifying times for relays, it uses rankings,” said Lisimati.
He said Lesotho will be strategic in that with that time they will have a standard to work on when they go to the Lefika Relays in Botswana in two weeks’ time.
The world’s top 24 teams qualify.
“We just wish these boys qualify and make a name for themselves and go and represent the country,” said Lisimati.
Lisimati said the 400m that are based in the US are not available because of collegiate competitions and examinations.
He said sprinters based in the US will also try to qualify for the 4x100m relay for the World Relays.
Makanakaishe Charamba, Tapiwanashe Makarawu and Denzel Siamusalela are some of the sprinters based in the US Zimbabwe is counting on for continued presence in major international events.
Charamba and Makarawu were in the top 10 200m in last year’s World Championships held in Tokyo, Japan.
