Online Reporter
Ellina Mhlanga-Zimpapers Sports Hub
TEAM Zimbabwe coach Aaron Whyte believes they stand a good chance of going beyond the first round in both the relays and individual events at the World Athletics Under-20 Championships that start on Wednesday in Eugene, Oregon, in the US.
Nine junior athletes — Nataly Shoko, Anesu Nyahuma, Ropafadzo Mzondo, Tatenda Chindowa, Nenyasha Chihora, Malachi Mafunga, Gift Khumalo, Emmanuel Uriga, and Alvin Simon are representing the country at the meet that brings together rising stars from across the world.
The core of the team will participate in the men’s 4x400m and mixed 4x400m relay events.
For the individual events, Chindowa will compete for honours in the men’s high jump, and Mzondo will take to the track in the men’s 400m.
As they step on the world stage, Whyte believes they have what it takes to advance to the next rounds of competition.
“To be honest, I can see a lot of promise in those athletes. On the individual events, we have got Ropafadzo Mzondo,” said Whyte.
“I can tip him to go beyond the first round and even progress. But he said, coach, let’s make it a surprise. So, I will leave it as a surprise.
“Then we have got Chindowa, we all know him. Chindowa is full of energy.
“He is not afraid of leaping onto the stage and doing what he can do best. So, I am expecting some good performances from Chindowa.
“And then our relay teams. This has been our forte. Looking at what the senior team has done, 4×4-wise. So, I am expecting our 4×4 relay team to go beyond the first stage.”
The nine-member team left in two groups, with the first one leaving on Saturday for the US, and the second batch was scheduled to leave yesterday.
Most of the team members had a chance to assess their progress during the Southern African Confederation of Athletics Under-18 and Under-20 Championships staged in Mauritius in June.
Whyte has been working with most of the athletes for some time, mainly for the relays, while also coordinating with coaches for individuals based outside Harare before the final phase of the preparations.
“Initially, it’s the first part of the group. Our camp went on well.
“The only challenge that we had in the early days is that we had a lot of injuries because most of these athletes had never been exposed to the level of training that they embarked on.
“So, we had to move back to start reconditioning them and then work on their strength and conditioning.
“But as time went by, they adapted to what we wanted them to do. And then we started having competitions, notably the competition that we had in Mauritius, where we took most of the athletes who are travelling here.
“And that’s where we really made an assessment to see where exactly we are. And we realised that we had actually made a lot of strides.
“Our athletes were at a stage where they could attempt this competition of this magnitude,” said Whyte.
The likes of Nyahuma, who will be part of the mixed relay team, will be hoping to build on her experience from the SACA meet and the Africa Senior Championships as well.
And is looking forward to the exposure at world stage.
“I am excited because this is my last year as a junior, and I will gain some experience being at the world championships.
“The most important thing is the experience because these kinds of competitions are big competitions and we learn a lot from them.”
Several corporates, including Coral Soft, Innbucks, and Top Flight Travel, have come on board to make the team’s participation at the junior championships a reality.
