The Sunday Mail
Lawson Madzivanyika
ARUNDEL School track captain Rutendo Chimbaru has qualified for this year’s IAAF World Junior Championships after running the 400m in 55:06s at last week’s Nash Championships in Mutare.
The qualification time for the world competition, to be held in Poland in July this year, is 55:25s.
Chimbaru, whose motto is “hard work beats talent when talent fails to work hard”, is elated by her achievement.
“It’s a good achievement for me, one that has been made possible by hard work. I owe my success to God and would like to thank all my coaches for guiding me through training and believing in me,” she said.
Harare province coach Apinos Chiwara believes Chimbaru will make an impression at the World Championships.
“Rutendo is a gifted athlete who works hard and those of us who have watched her progressing over the years were not surprised when she qualified for the World Championships.
“She will definitely make it at the Championships and we are prepared to give her all the support she needs as Harare province,” said Chiwara.
Last year, Chimbaru was voted the Best Female Track Athlete at the Cossasa Games in Maseru, Lesotho after winning the country three gold medals in 100m, 200m and 4x200m relay.
“It was indeed a great experience for me since it was my first international award. That award made me believe in myself more and I look forward to bagging more accolades,” she said.
Chimbaru is not all about athletics as she also plays hockey and volleyball.
On the academic side the Zimbabwe Under-20 volleyball team member is studying Mathematics, Biology and Chemistry at Advanced Level.
