Online Reporter
Lovemore Dube [email protected]
ZIMBABWE’S growing reputation as a sprints country got further endorsement when Thandazani Ndhlovu beat an international field to post a sumptuous 44.71 seconds in the 400m race of the Botswana Golden Grand Prix Championships in Gaborone on Sunday.
His effort and many other great times posted by other sprinters so far this year, are a sure sign that Zimbabwe’s athletes will be among those to watch out for at the Senior African Championships from May 12-17 in Ghana.
The 44.71 seconds was an improvement to his 45.14 achieved a fortnight earlier in the Botswana capital.
He had the US’s Bryce Deadmon finishing second in 44.86 seconds and South African Adrain Swart third in 45.52 seconds.
Adoni Haron of Uganda was fourth in 45.68, Zimbabwe’s Dennis Hove fifth in 45.96.
Leeford Zuze, who had become the first Zimbabwean to run a sub 45 seconds when he clocked 44.91 a fortnight ago, did not live up to expectation, finishing eighth in 46.38.
The recent solid performances in sprints have given rise to hope that Tendai Tagara’s National Athletics Association of Zimbabwe is turning a real new leaf.
Zimbabwean athletes have been appearing in the top 100 lists consistently in the last three years in the 100 and 200m and have added the 400.
In the last major world competitions, they have even reached the finals.
Tapiwanashe Makarawu and Makanakaishe Charamba reached the Olympics’ final in 2024 at the Paris Olympics.
Last year, Makarawu was in the top eight of the World Athletics Championship final with Charamba ninth, missing out on taking part in the final, a lane short.
Meanwhile Bakers Inn sponsored 200m sprinter Methembe Tshuma ran to an easy win at the same event when he finished first in 20.70 seconds, beating Botswana’s Eppie Lee by 0.06 seconds.
Young Daniel Magogo joined a long list of athletes to run a Senior African Championships qualifying time of 21.00 seconds.
However, his time is down the pecking order with Charamba and Makarawu having run sub 20 second times last year to assert themselves as favourites.
In the same bill, Zimbabwean Ashley Miller finished second in the women’s 400m hurdles.
An interesting feature about the men’s 400m is that Botswana, South Africa, Zambia and Zimbabwe athletes are topping the lists of the best 25 for 2026.
Lythe Pillay has the best time of 44.32 seconds 0.03 behind Davis Jayden of the US. With each country expected to field three athletes per event at next month’s Senior African Championships, Botswana has a wide pool to choose from and will be handy in the 4x400m relay where Letsile Tebogo (44.37), Lee Bhekimpilo Eppie (44.53), Busang Kebinatshipi (44.55), Justice Oratile (44.61) and Bayapo Ndori (44.62) are in contention and potential medal stuff.
λ Full story on www.chronicle.co.zw
Zambia has Muzala Samukonga who has run the 10th best time of 44.55 seconds and Nigerian Samuel Ogazi.
South Africa has Zakithi Nene (44.50) and Pillay.
Ndhlovu with 44.71, Zuze 44.91 and Hove represent a realistic medal wage should they be selected for the individual race or the 4x400m for the African Senior Championships.
