The Sunday Mail
Deputy Sports Editor
FOR Zimbabwe track and field star Chengetayi Mapaya, time is just a relative construct.
With about 14 weeks before the Olympics qualifying deadline, and the 22-year-old yet to consistently break into the 17-metre mark, it would make sense for the triple jump ace to be panicking.
But, this is not the case.
“Pressure? What pressure?” quipped the Texas Christian University (TCU) junior.
Much like Albert Einstein’s Special Theory of Relativity, which claims that the rate at which time passes depends on one’s frame of reference, Mapaya is at ease with his progress, and expects to be in Tokyo come July 23.
“There is no pressure at all. I just have to keep working hard and trust the process,” he said.
Mapaya wrapped up his indoor season last weekend with a podium finish at the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Indoor Track and Field Championships in Fayetteville, Arkansas (US).
His best mark of 16,95 metres saw him not only earn a silver medal at the meet, but break a 23-year-old Zimbabwean indoor record held by Ndabazihle Mdhlongwa (16,89m).
It was a feat well in character with the Zimbabwean jumper, who has made it a personal goal to break as many records as possible between now and when he finishes school at TCU.
The goal is to leave a lasting impression on the American Collegiate circuit.
“With the whole Covid-19 situation, and I am still a junior. I actually have another season next year,” said Mapaya.
“The goal between now and then is to break as many records as possible and leave my mark.
“The main goal is to break the Zimbabwe national record and NCAA outdoor triple jump record.”
The NCAA record currently stands at 17,54 metres and is held by Mike Conley Jnr.
Ironically, Mdhlongwa also holds the national outdoor record (17,34m)
“I failed to achieve the indoor (NCAA) equivalent this year, but will definitely take another crack at it in 2022.
“I have a couple of records under my belt already, but I do not have a favourite.
“The NCAA outdoor record will be my favourite.”
With the indoor season now in the rear-view mirror, Mapaya is currently in the form of his life as National Collegiate Athletic Association heads outdoors.
Here, the goal will be to pass the 17,14m mark (Olympic qualifying) and do so before the June 29 deadline.
“I do not believe that I have jumped my best just yet.
“When I made my season-best jump, that was not the best technique.
“It’s a very long season, and it’s all about progression from here on.
“I am looking at working on finishing off my jump phase well and on my run-up going into the hop phase.
“In triple jump its hop, step and jump, but I need to turn it into hop, step and fly.
“I am working on the last phase, which is the fly part, and I need to hold it longer so as to stay in the air longer,” he said.
With the outdoor season opening up, Mapaya will have one eye on the record and another on the Olympic qualifying mark.
“There are a lot of positives to take away from the indoor season, which I think went well.
“I managed to improve every single meet, except for one where I only managed to make the one jump.
“I managed to jump well in the first rounds, which is something I have been working on, and there was gradual progression with every single jump and meet.
“Now, we head into the outdoor season, which is where the money is at.
“There will be a meet almost every weekend, and it will be up to my coach to see which ones I participate in.
“I trust my coach, the 17 metre jumps are in and it will be about peaking at the right time,” Mapaya said.
