Four-minute mile qualifiers postponed

Sport
THE LAST round of qualifiers of the Coca-Cola Four-Minute Mile Challenge which were scheduled for yesterday at Gifford High School have been moved to Wednesday at the same venue due to unavailability of challengers.

THE LAST round of qualifiers of the Coca-Cola Four-Minute Mile Challenge which were scheduled for yesterday at Gifford High School have been moved to Wednesday at the same venue due to unavailability of challengers.

Ronald Moyo Sports Reporter

After the organisers of the competition, Bulawayo Athletics Board (BAB) previously said they were targeting at least 50 athletes in this year’s event, it seems like the number is now unattainable.

Twenty-four athletes have so far qualified for finals slated for the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair Grounds next Saturday.

Black Rhinos Athletics Club dominates with six athletes, among them last year’s winner Simbarashe Chikadaga who romped home in 4min 10,10secs.

Bonface Jackie, Levison Mafura, Trust Hove, Tatenda Hove and Charles Mkanda are other five athletes from Black Rhinos. They will be looking forward to take the first prize money should Chikadaga fail to defend his title.

ZRP Fairbridge and Blanket mine athletics clubs have three athletes each with Isaac Mpofu, Trust Cidomaya and Trust Madoro representing the former whileTawanda Matunhu, Wellington Varevi and Nkosiyazi Sibanda are from the latter.

Other athletes who will be taking part include Elijah Mabhunu of Harare Athletics Club who came second last year, Wirimai Juwawo, George Majahi (Shabanie Mine), Thando Maphosa, Simbarashe Taderera (Sparrows), Dzingayi Dandara, Jonathan Chinyoka of ZPCS, Phathisa Ngwabi (Hwange) and Irvin Rozi of Rio Tinto.

BAB secretary-general Dailes Bingadadi said a tough competition is expected this year and also challenged the corporate world to sponsor women’s race in conjunction with the four-minute mile.

“From the athletes that have qualified I think it is going to be an interesting competition. We have the likes of Juwawo who has not been taking part for the past years, so we are expecting much from them.

“I would also like to challenge the corporate world to sponsor women’s race in future.

“The Coca-cola four-minute-mile is open to both sexies, but naturally women are slow runners compared to their male counterparts so the race becomes a men’s battle,” she said.

The qualifiers were conducted throughout the country during National Athletics Association of Zimbabwe and National Association of Secondary Heads competitions to give athletes from all corners of the country equal chances to take part in the finals.