Online Reporter
Lovemore Dube, Zimpapers Sports Hub
ZIMBABWE’S top track athletes continue to dazzle on the global stage, with a historic 2025 NCAA season further cementing the country’s growing footprint in world athletics.
The National Athletics Association of Zimbabwe (NAAZ) has hailed the remarkable rise of its athletes, attributing the recent success to strong junior structures and consistent development programmes that are now bearing fruit.
Head of technical development, Phakamile Lisimati, believes the performances of top athletes such as Makanakaishe Charamba, Tapiwanashe Makarawu and Vimbai Maisvoreva are a testament to the long term vision of the association.
“We have athletes like Makanaishe Charamba, Tapiwanashe Makarawu and Vimbai Maisvoreva who went through structured development at school level and earned scholarships. They progressed through all the stages and I want to commend everyone who contributed to where we are as a nation,” said Lisimati.
“We are very proud of their success on the global stage. It’s inspiring a new generation and showing that Zimbabwe belongs in the big league.”
Lisimati also singled out the growing emergence of female athletes, especially 400m runner Vimbai Maisvoreva and hurdler Ashley Miller, for their impact on young girls watching from home.
“You look at Vimbai and Ashley, they’re doing really well. Vimbai will compete in her first World Championships in September. It’s motivating to see her journey. She lost races at junior level but never gave up. Now, look where she is,” he said.
The 2025 NCAA Track and Field season was one for the books, with Zimbabwean athletes making massive strides, both figuratively and literally.
After ending 2024 ranked 12th and 15th in the world over 200m, Makarawu and Charamba didn’t rest. They built on that momentum to qualify for the 200m final at the upcoming Olympic Games, a feat no other Zimbabwean duo has managed before.
In the process, Makarawu broke the national 200m record with a blistering 19.94 seconds, while Charamba clocked a personal best of 19.95, both comfortably within Olympic and World Championship qualifying times.
This year’s NCAA Division One finals saw Makarawu raise the bar even higher, recording an eye popping 19.84 seconds, the second fastest time globally this season. He now sits third on the world list behind T’maars McCallum (19.83) and tied with Kenneth Bednarek (19.84), whose mark came with a weaker tailwind.
Charamba followed up with a 19.92, the seventh fastest time in the world this season and second fastest ever by a Zimbabwean. Their Tokyo World Championship tickets are already booked.
Bulawayo born Denzel Simusialela is also knocking on the door of greatness, with his 20.23 seconds ranked 38th globally. Another Zimbabwean, Takudzwa Chiyangwa, is placed 80th with 20.40 seconds.
In the 100m, David Nyamufarira ran 10.01 seconds, the 26th best time this season, narrowly missing the World Championship qualifying standard. Simusialela also cracked the top 100 with a 10.11.
Together with Makarawu and Charamba, they could form a formidable 4x100m relay team, with real potential to reach the final at the World Championships.
Maisvoreva, who holds the national 400m record, continued her steady rise. Her current mark of 50.25 seconds is 15th globally for 2025. Africa’s top ranked runner is Kenya’s Mercy Adongo Oketch (12th) with a time of 50.14 seconds, while the world leader is Selwa Ed Naser (48.67).
In the 400m hurdles, Ashley Miller wrapped up her season with a 56.07, placing her 59th in the world rankings, another sign that Zimbabwe’s female stars are on the up.
