dyton mupawaenda
Ellina Mhlanga–Senior Sports Reporter
AS the World Athletics Under-20 Championships draw closer, National Athletics Association of Zimbabwe head coach youth and junior Briad Nhubu is optimistic of an improved show at the meet scheduled to get underway next week in Lima, Peru.
The competition is due to take place from August 27 to 31.
Zimbabwe will be represented by Panashe Nhenga, David Nyamufarira, Caledon Ruwende, Dylan Musarurwa, Alpha Mpofu and Brendon Muvimi.
This year’s edition will see Zimbabwe fielding an improved number of athletes compared to the previous editions.
In the last edition held in 2022 in Cali, Colombia, only two athletes qualified. It was the same scenario for the 2020 edition, which was held in 2021 in Nairobi, Kenya after it was postponed due to Covid-19.
With the six athletes meeting the qualifying standards during the qualification period, Nhubu is confident they stand a chance of going beyond the first round in their respective events.
“The boys have posted very encouraging times and distances that quite well surpassed the qualifying benchmark, implying that if they would maintain their form, we expect them to sail through their heats to semis. Possibly, jumpers to the finals.
“Their performance is very impressive and we think with the experience they now have for World Junior Championships, they may perform very well in Lima.
“Their qualifying performances are in the very good range for athletes who can sail through the preliminary rounds without pressure.
“Its first time to have more athletes qualifying and first time to field a relay (team),” said Nhubu.
Most of the athletes will compete in track events and this time around, NAAZ will field a 4x100m relay team.
Nhenga, is set to compete in 100m and the 4x100m relay. He is returning to the junior global competition, having represented the country in 2022 in Cali.
Nyamufarira is up for 100, 200m and 4x100m relay. Ruwende will represent the country in 200m and 4x100m relay while Mpofu made the cut in 400m.
Muvimi will is part of the 4x100m relay team and Musarurwa will compete in long jump.
Nhubu, Ruwende and Muvimi are scheduled to leave for Peru on Sunday.
They will meet US-based athletes – Nhenga, Nyamufarira and Mpofu as well as South Africa-based athlete Musarurwa in Lima.
The athletes have been working with their coaches at their respective bases.
However, last week the two local based athletes had some drills together at the National Sports Stadium.
“The plans included relay drills, which we did last week since some of the athletes are flying via their new schools in America where they will be connecting from to Lima. The boys have been working exceptional well to fine tune their form.
“They are with their coaches because some were at school, so we could not call for a camp. Musarurwa is based in South Africa where he has been attending the High Performance Centre,” Nhubu said.
There have been some encouraging strides for athletics this year, with an improved number of athletes also qualifying for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, where sprinters Tapiwanashe Makarawu and Makanakaishe Charamba reached the men’s 200m final.
Isaac Mpofu made top 20 in the men’s marathon when finishing on position 19.
Prior to the Olympics, NAAZ sent a 10-member team for the Africa Senior Championships held in Doula, Cameroon.
They got two silver medals from Chengetayi Mapaya in triple jump and Makarawu in 200m.
Online Reporter