Zimbabwe 400m runners bid for World Relays slot

ZIMBABWE will send five 400m runners to Lesotho this weekend as the National Athletics Association of Zimbabwe intensifies efforts to secure a competitive relay time ahead of the World Relays in Botswana. The move comes as local quarter milers continue to post increasingly competitive performances.

The squad features three athletes, who have already broken the 46 second barrier, signalling a growing depth in an event that had long struggled for consistency. Thandazani Ndlovu, Denis Hove, Gerren Muwishi, Leeford Zuze and Midlands runner Ropafadzo Mzondo are set to compete in Maseru on Saturday in a race intended to establish Zimbabwe’s standing in the 4x400m relay.
Naaz head of technical, Phakamile Lisimati, said the association was encouraged by the standards being set on the track.

“This is the first time in many years that we have several athletes running around the 45 second mark,” said Lisimati. “It shows the work being done by the coaches is starting to produce results.”
Ndlovu leads the group with a personal best of 45.30 seconds recorded in Pretoria last month. Zuze has clocked 45.62, while Hove has run 45.83. Muwishi has dipped into the 46 second range, and Mzondo holds a best of 47 seconds.

The race in Maseru forms part of a short build up to the World Relays, which act as a crucial international qualifying platform for relay teams. Qualification is based on world rankings rather than set times, meaning Zimbabwe must record a competitive performance to enter the global list.

“We want to run a good time in Lesotho so we have something to build from. After that, the team will also compete at the Lefika Relays in Botswana in two weeks,” said Lisimati.

The top 24 ranked teams advance to the World Relays.
Lisimati added that the country’s recent progress in the quarter mile event was promising, particularly in light of the limited resources available to athletes and coaches.

“Our coaches have worked under difficult conditions but the athletes are responding well,” he said.
The athletes are expected to depart for Maseru tomorrow.

Zimbabwe’s broader relay plans also include sprinters based in the United States, who are anticipated to strengthen the 4x100m squad once their collegiate seasons permit. Among those likely to feature are Makanakaishe Charamba, Tapiwanashe Makarawu and Denzel Siamusalela. Charamba and Makarawu both finished in the top ten of the 200m at last year’s World Championships in Tokyo, performances that reinforced Zimbabwe’s rising sprint profile on the global stage.