The ManicaPost
Ray Bande
Senior Reporter
HILCREST College hotshot — Vimbai Maisvoreva — will be part of the Manicaland contingent of 13 long and short distance runners who will partake in the national track and field championships at White City Stadium in Bulawayo next weekend.
Maisvoreva is the current national record holder of the junior women 800m race.
She set this record at the World Junior Championships held in Kenya two years ago.
Manicaland Athletics Board (MAB) chairperson, Joshua Matume, confirmed that the team that will represent the province in Bulawayo has been set up.
“We had our MAB inter-district track and field championships recently. Due to the Covid-19 pandemic regulations, we selected athletes from five events as a way of avoiding a big crowd. More than 30 athletes participated at this meet,” said Matume.
Among the athletes travelling for the Bulawayo meet are veterans Nyasha Mutsetse and Misheck Sithole, who will participate in the 5 000 meters men’s category. Marymount Teachers College’s Samuel Chinaani will also compete in the 5 000m race.
Just like in the inter-district completions, only five track events — 100m, 200m, 400m, 800m and 5 000m — will be held at the national meet in Bulawayo.
Ngoni Makusha is eyeing qualification for the Olympics and is among a host of other top local athletes looking forward to participating at the national event.
Meanwhile, MAB recently conducted a four-day coaching and officiating session at Chancellor Junior.
Coaching course facilitator — Briad Nhubu — said the first course was for national coaching level two, adding that most of the participants completed their national level one coaching course in 2019.
“The second course was national officiating level one. The courses were a very big lap for us as they gave us the opportunity to further develop the human resources base for Manicaland and the country at large,” he said.
Nhubu underscored the importance of the coaching and officiating courses.
“This is a prudent programme for athletics development as it provides requisite knowledge to the upcoming coaches who will be dealing with grassroots athletes. I am excited about this robust programme, which is one of the national federation’s strategic plans.
“Empowering coaches with current scientific coaching skills is critical as it exposes the athletes to the right skills.
“The same applies to the officiating course, which is a deliberate move by National Athletics Association of Zimbabwe to ensure that potential athletes get the best officials as they need proper assessment to determine their development,” he said.
Nhubu was assisted by Godfrey Ndiringepi in facilitating the coaching courses, while Chipinge-based Taurai Gatsi conducted the officiating course.
