Online Reporter
Lovemore Dube in ACCRA, Ghana
GERREN Muwishi, captain of the Zimbabwe team competing at the African Senior Athletics Championships in Ghana, says the squad is in high spirits ahead of the competition.
The team consisting of local and US-based athletes arrived in Accra on Saturday and have been acclimatising well.
“Everyone is in sync with the other, we even taking walks to the stadium which is five minutes away,” said Muwishi.
He said they are enjoying the buzz created by the 4×400 relay team.
“Everyone is asking if the 4x400m relay team will be taking part,” said Muwishi.
The captain led Zimbabwe to three distinct feats this year.
The team qualified for the 2027 World Championships, finished fifth in the World Relays and set a new national record of 2 minutes 59.01 seconds last month, the second of the year after they had improved 3 minutes 00.79 seconds to 3 minutes 00.69 seconds.
The Zimbabwe team trained yesterday morning and the coach Phakamile Lisimati is happy with all his athletes’ readiness.
Methembe Tshuma, Tapiwanashe Makarawu and Ngoni Makusha will take part in the 100m preliminaries. Should they proceed to the semis, they will be in action later in the day.
Samukeliso Ndebele will be in action in the women’s 100m dash.
Anesu Nyahuma will be among the Zimbabwe contingent in action in the 400m.
Her male counterparts who have made a mark, placing fifth in the World Relays’ 4x400m relay, will have Thandazani Ndhlovu whose 44.71 seconds, Leeford Zuze 44.91 and Dennis Hove 45.00 have given the nation reason to believe.
National record holder in the 100 hurdles, 400m hurdles and 300m Ashley Miller will take part in the shorter sprint’s preliminary rounds.
Zimbabwean runners have risen to being the athletes to beat globally.
Zimbabwe coach, Lisimati is happy with the athletes’ preparedness.
The coach expressed confidence in the team.
“My athletes have been working hard to excel,” said Lisimati.
There is so much positive expectation for the nine athletes that will be in action today to proceed to the next round.
Team
Men: Leeford Zuze (400m, 4x400m relay), Dennis Hove (400m, 4x400m relay), Thandazani Ndhlovu (400m, 4x400m relay), Gerren Muwishi (400m, 4x400m relay), Derick Matutu (4x400m mixed relay), Methembe Tshuma (200m, 4x100m relay), Tapiwanashe Makarawu (100m, 200m, 4x100m relay), Makanakaishe Charamba (200m,4x100m relay), Ngoni Makusha 100m, 4x100m relay)
Women: Ashley Miller (400mH, 4x400m mixed relay), Samukeliso Ndebele (100m, 200m) Anesu Nyahuma (400m, 4x400m mixed relay).
