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Ellina Mhlanga in NDOLA, Zambia
ZIMBABWE concluded their participation at the Confederation of African Athletics Under-18 and Under-20 Championships with a total of seven medals as the curtain came down on the competition yesterday at Levy Mwanawasa Stadium in Zambia.
Shawn Katsidzira got a silver medal in the Under-20 men 400m hurdles yesterday to add to Zimbabwe’s tally of seven medals.
They have three silver and four bronze.
Katsidzira had on Tuesday posted a personal best of 14.75seconds in the 110m hurdles but missed a medal when coming fourth. And with just two countries — Zimbabwe and South Africa entering their athletes for the Under-20 men 400m hurdles, they were guaranteed a medal each.
“I just didn’t want to give up and of course God works in mysterious ways. I didn’t manage to get a medal in the event I came training for but in my other event managing to get a medal I am proud of myself. “And I am just happy I managed to represent my country well and make everyone proud.
“I want to thank my coaches and everyone who supported me because it wasn’t a secret that the level of competition here is higher and not what we are used to.
“But we managed to work on my mentality since we got here, he had me train next to the other athletes where possible, warm up with them so I get it out of my head that until I cross the finish line behind them they are not better than me.
“So I went into the race that way and that’s probably why I managed to post a personal best,” said Katsidzira.
Going into the last day of the competition, Zimbabwe had picked six medals.
Three of the medals were won on Tuesday with Samuel Dauti picking silver in the Under-18 men triple jump and Takunda Mubariki got bronze in the Under-20 men discus while the 4x100m Under-20 women’s relay won bronze.
The team was made up of Samkeliso Ndebele, Priviledge Bower, Linnette Zembe and Rujeko Munetsi.
Zimbabwe had finished fourth but made it into the top three following the disqualification of Nigeria who had come first. South Africa and Zambia got gold and silver respectively.
Dauti, who claimed silver in the Under-18 men triple jump, is hoping to keep on improving.
“I am feeling very happy and this means a lot to me. For all the preparations I have been doing and finally winning the silver medal, it really meant a lot because I have taken so much time putting so much in this just to be here.
“And just knowing that we have been second placed in all of Africa, it just means a lot.
“I am looking forward to getting better and maybe getting a scholarship outside, overseas, and just aiming to improve and just to be better in the sport “said Dauti.
Prior to Tuesday’s event, Dauti had posted a personal best in high jump.
Mubariki said he needs to up his game as he graduates to the senior level.
“When I saw the starting list, I was just targeting to win a medal. But mainly I was focusing on beating my personal best.
“I didn’t get my personal best but at least I got something… Going to the senior level is going to be tough, so we just have to push hard.
“We are targeting to go for the African Games and CAA Senior championships.”
In other events from yesterday, Tanaka Njiri was fourth in the Under-20 women hurdles. In the 4x400m Under-20 relay, the women’s team finished fifth and the men’s team was seventh.
Online Reporter