Zim hosts three nations in athletics competition

Sikhumbuzo Moyo, Senior Sports Reporter
THREE neighbouring countries will grace the National Athletics Association of Zimbabwe (NAAZ) organised interprovincial track and field competition which starts this afternoon and ends tomorrow at White City Stadium.

Botswana, Mozambique and Zambia will each send athletes for the meet which will also be used as a qualifying event for the forthcoming World Junior Championships set for Russia from July 19-24.

Naaz secretary general Cynthia Phiri confirmed that the three countries are set to send their athletes for the competition, the first major meet to be held at White City Stadium since the venue was refurbished for the highly successful African Union Sports Council Region 5 Under-20 Youth Games in 2014.

“We’re happy that our event has taken a regional face with the presence of the three countries. As for our provinces, all 10 of them have confirmed their participation with each province set to field two athletes per event,” said Phiri.

The competition will use the state of the art equipment which was purchased for the 2014 Games, including an electronic timing system as well as wind measuring systems.

The first event, the 100m Under-20 women hurdles final will start at 2PM, according to the programme released by Phiri.

According to the International Association of Athletics Federation (IAAF), wind assisted performances of over 2m per second will not be accepted while hand-timed performances for events up to and including 800m will also not be accepted.

Three athletes can initially be entered per event, provided each has achieved the entry standard, but only two will be allowed to compete at the championships.

World junior championships qualifying standards

100m

Men: 10.55sec, Women: 11.80sec

200m
Men:21.35sec, Women: 24.20

400m
Men: 47.70sec, Women: 55.25sec

800m
Men: 1min.49.50sec, Women: 2min.09.20sec

1,500m
Men: 3min.48.00sec, Women: 4min.28.20sec

3,000m
Women: 9min.35.00sec

5,000m
Men: 14min.15.00sec/8min.15.00sec (3,000m), Women: 16min.40.00sec

10,000m
Men: 31min.10.00sec

100mH
Women: 14.20sec

110mH
Men: 14.20sec (0.995m)