Online Reporter
Ellina Mhlanga
Zimpapers Sports Hub
NATIONAL Athletics Association of Zimbabwe president Tendayi Tagara says they are hopeful of World Relays qualification following an encouraging performance by the men’s 4x400m relay team at the Maseru International Meet.
The team made up of Thandazani Ndhlovu, Leeford Zuze, Gerren Muwishi and Dennis Hove won the race at the Setsoto stadium with a time of 3 minutes 03.55 seconds ahead of Senegal, Lesotho and Eswatini over the weekend.
Zimbabwe are targeting qualification to the World Relays slated for May 2 and 3 in Gaborone, Botswana.
They are ranked 24 on the Top List with a time of 3 minutes 03.42.
Tagara said Saturday’s meet in Maseru was a good starting point ahead of their participation at the Lefika International Relays this weekend in Botswana.
“As an association, the 3:03.55 was good for us because they have somewhere to start from. We didn’t want them to run only once, in Botswana,” said Tagara.
“It gives them time for corrections, to see where and which of the four legs was the slowest, what happened, what has to be changed, so that when we go to Lefika, we are in a better position.
“We want to make sure that while other countries are also pushing to qualify, we are also pushing to qualify.”
The team was expected back home yesterday, and will leave for Botswana tomorrow ahead of the Lefika Relays pencilled for Saturday.
Tagara said they are expecting a good competition in Botswana, which will help push the team to run a better time.
“We stand a good chance of improving the time in Botswana because if we look at the race (in Lesotho) they were leading by almost 50m, ahead of Senegal meaning they did not get that push.
“But Botswana may field two relay teams plus their clubs. I know Namibia will be there, South Africa might be there.
“They have invited about 10 countries from the region, and Botswana will be fielding their own relay team because that’s the only time they usually do their trials. So, we are expecting a good time in Botswana,” said Tagara.
NAAZ are keeping their fingers crossed the team makes it for the World Relays.
“It’s a dog-eat-dog situation. We know after the weekend there will be only five days to go before the qualifying window closes. We are just praying that we will be there.
“Now that they have run another race, they no longer have much pressure, but it’s always in the mind that we want to be there in the top 24.
“But we are hoping for the best, and we will try to do our best and maintain our ranking in the top 24. That’s what we are hoping for as a team,” added Tagara.
Twenty-four teams will be entered for each of the six events lined up at the World Relays.
