Online Reporter
Lovemore Dube, Zimpapers Sports Hub
ZIMBABWE’S bid for a place at this year’s World Athletics Championships in Tokyo has been handed a late boost, with top US-based athletes finally becoming available for selection after the conclusion of the 2025 college outdoor season in June.
National Athletics Association of Zimbabwe (Naaz) president Tendai Tagara confirmed they will gain access to student athletes on full scholarships once they have fulfilled their academic and sporting obligations abroad.
“The athletes will be available after completing their college calendar in June,” said Tagara. “We’ve made several efforts, including working with US based coaches, to ensure they’re ready for major qualification events.”
The deadline for qualification for the Tokyo World Championships is August for track and field athletes, giving Zimbabwe a narrow window to push for relay berths and individual spots.
Some athletes were unavailable for the African Games last year due to college commitments. Tagara said it was difficult to secure early release from universities that invest heavily in their student athletes.
“We tried to bring them in April but they said it would disrupt their transition from the indoor to outdoor season,” he said.
Tagara said they had also engaged the Sports and Recreation Commission (SRC) to help but the universities insist they expect performance both in the classroom and on the track.
The Zimbabwean students in the US are enjoying both academic benefits and elite sports infrastructure of the colleges but their absence in key qualification windows has long hampered national relay ambitions.
Zimbabwe has until late July and early August to assemble competitive relay teams, particularly for the men’s 4x100m and 4x400m events, with a number of high-ranking athletes eligible if properly managed post-college season.
At last week’s World Relays in Guangzhou, China, Zimbabwe’s 4x400m men’s team was disqualified for a takeover zone infringement. They clocked 3:05.65, well outside their qualifying time of 3:03.42 posted in Botswana two months earlier.
Still, there is cause for optimism.
In the 100m sprint, David Nyamufarira, ranked 14th in the world, clocked 10.01 seconds, just 0.01 shy of the automatic qualifying standard for Tokyo. He’s joined by Dezel Siamusialela (55th, 10.11s) and Ngoni Makusha (130th, 10.22s), forming a potential sub-40 second 4x100m unit.
In the 200m, Makanakaishe Charamba ranked 4th globally, lit up the season with a blistering 19.99 seconds. Tapiwanashe Makarawu, Zimbabwe’s national record holder (19.93s), is ranked 10th in 2025 with a best of 20.13s, while Siamusialela (23rd) adds depth with his 20.23s showing.
Naaz also has 300m specialists who can convert to 400m relay legs. Takudzwa Chiyangwa (5th, 32.38s), Makarawu (30th, 33.01s), and Takudzwa Pahema (72nd, 33.42s) offer versatility, while 400m lead man Denis Hove, fresh from World Relays duty, boasts a season best of 45.50s.
He is backed by Carlton Chiyangwa (45.79s, ranked 133rd), and Leeford Zuze (46.00s, ranked 185th). With proper preparations and elite competition, this relay crop could push for national records and a rare World Championship relay appearance.
