BULAWAYO Athletics Board (BAB) chairman Manuel Mpofu has challenged athletes to work hard on their times if the province is to make an impact in the national cross-country finals set for Kwekwe next month.
RONALD MOYO SPORTS REPORTER
BAB will have the final selection of the provincial team at Luveve High School on Sunday.
The first selection exercise saw athletes attending a provincial cross-country at Nketa Drive Park last Sunday and it was the Under-16 boys, Under-18 girls and boys’ athletes who managed to beat the stipulated qualification times.
“On Sunday, we will be having our final selection of the Bulawayo provincial cross-country team that will represent the province in Kwekwe early next month. We had the first selection this past Sunday and we saw athletes coming in numbers though most of them failed to beat the times we expected them to beat. These times are provincial records and in most cases they help us see the pedigree of athletes when we go for national competitions. We hope that our athletes will improve in their times this time around,” Mpofu said.
Girls Under-16 are expected to finish the 6km race between 21 minutes, 18mins 24secs is recommended for the boys of the same age group while girls Under-18 who take part in a 6km event should pass the finishing line in 24mins, 50secs and 27mins at the worst.
The Under-18 boys should complete 8km in 24mins, 50secs, while the Under-20 girls also competing in the same distance are expected to finish the race between 24mins, 40secs and 27mins, 55secs.
Under-20 boys and senior women who compete 8km are expected to finish the race between 24mins, 44secs and 31mins, while senior men should complete the 12km event between 35mins and 37mins.
- Chamisa under fire over US$120K donation
- Mavhunga puts DeMbare into Chibuku quarterfinals
- Pension funds bet on Cabora Bassa oilfields
- Councils defy govt fire tender directive
Keep Reading
Mpofu said they were expecting athletes to come in numbers, especially junior athletes preparing for National Association for Secondary School Heads (Nash) athletics season.
“We are expecting a good turnout on Sunday so that we can have a competitive event and as a result select a very strong provincial team. Schools should take this opportunity as they will also be preparing for their Nash athletics season,” he said.
The first provincial cross-country event held at Nketa Drive Park saw only one woman running the girls’ Under-20 8km race.
