Online Reporter
Ellina Mhlanga, Zimpapers Sports Hub
THE countdown to Tokyo is on, and Zimbabwe’s marathon duo of Tendai Zimuto and Isaac Mpofu are stepping up their game as preparations for the World Athletics Championships enter a critical phase.
Zimuto, who’s set for his debut at the global showpiece, returned from the Southern Region Senior Championships in Gaborone over the weekend with valuable lessons, and a runner-up finish in the men’s 10,000m. He clocked 30 minutes 43.33 seconds, just behind Botswana’s Oontse Lopang, who crossed the line in 30:42.13.
For Zimuto, this was more than a race. It was a key checkpoint in his training journey ahead of the World Championships, set for September 13 to 21 in Tokyo, Japan.
“I’m in camp, preparing for a big competition,” he said. “So as part of my preparation I am happy, the coach is happy, my training partner is happy with today’s performance.
“I also got the chance to gauge where I am with my preparations, like endurance. Now I know I have endurance, the speed is there, and we can go and correct one or two things for the main competition that is ahead of me.”
Zimuto and Mpofu have both qualified for the men’s marathon and are training under coach Benson Chauke, who’s encouraged by their steady progress.
“Right now, it’s about competitiveness and race sharpness, just being in that atmosphere,” Chauke said. “We were also checking if we could maintain certain splits over 10,000 metres and test ourselves against guys who specialise in shorter distances.
“We’ve seen that we haven’t fully toned down to top-end speed sessions yet. But I’m happy with him running an average of about three minutes per kilometre for a marathon, with six weeks left. That’s a good sign.”
Unlike Mpofu, who’s no stranger to the World Championships, Zimuto is preparing for his first appearance on the global stage. Their training schedules have been carefully customised, balancing intensity and recovery, as they build toward peak form.
“We were dealing with two athletes at different points,” Chauke explained. “One was coming from injury (Mpofu), the other from recent competition (Zimuto). So we eased the load for Isaac and gradually increased it, monitoring how he responded.
“At the same time, we gave Tendai a sharper focus, targeting this 10,000m race to help him experience competing in national colours, at home, in front of his own people.
“Now that that’s done, we’re moving into specific, targeted sessions in everything we do.”
Both runners have tested themselves at events like the Tanganda Half Marathon and the Econet Victoria Falls Marathon as part of their build-up. And with Tokyo looming, Mpofu says things are falling into place.
“So far everything is going well in camp,” said the seasoned marathoner. “We’re taking it one day at a time, trying to reach the targeted times with the coach.
“Now we’re just left with a few weeks, focusing on trying to run good times. If we go under 2:10 at the World Championships, that’ll be good progress for the future.”
Mpofu’s most recent major outing was last year’s Olympic Games in France. Now, alongside a hungry debutant in Zimuto, he’s hoping to lead a strong Zimbabwean charge on the streets of Tokyo.
