The Sunday Mail
Tariro Charandura
ZIMBABWE’S top female long distance runner, Rutendo Nyahora, has promised fireworks at the upcoming IAAF World athletics Championships set for London in August.
The 28-year-old South African based athlete – who represented Zimbabwe at the 2016 Rio Olympic Games – is very confident that all her training and hard work will pay off at the World Championships. Nyahora and Fortunate Chidzivo – who has qualified for the first time – will represent Zimbabwe in the women’s section, according to a statement released by National Athletics Association of Zimbabwe president Tendai Tagara.
The IAAF World Championships will run from August 4-13 and Nyahora said Zimbabweans should expect more from her.
“I have been in this industry long enough but I still feel honored to have made it to represent Zimbabwe and this time around, my country should expect more from me,” she told The Sunday Mail from her base in Pretoria.
“Winning the upcoming marathon would mark my ultimate and most significant achievement in my career and I’m confident about it.”
The athlete never doubted her place in the final team when the list was announced recently. “I have so far managed to set quite a good number of records in and outside Zimbabwe and I have always been in the top three of the highly competitive annual Spar 10km series in south Africa since 2010” she said.
“I have already started my preparations and everything is going on smoothly. “My hopes are now tied on showcasing my talent at the World Championships.”
She added that athletics has not only been a sport to her but also an income generating activity for her family. “It (marathon) has become an industry which enables me to put bread in the basket, and I have travelled and seen the world through this sport,” said Nyahora.
Veteran marathon runner Cuthbert Nyasango, Milan Matende and Pardon Ndlovu will line up for Zimbabwe in the male category.
