The Sunday Mail
Lawson Madzivanyika
WITH the clock ticking towards the 2016 Rio Olympic Games, the National Athletics Association of Zimbabwe is desperate to have more female athletes making the trip to Brazil.
So far only long distance runner Rutendo Nyahora has made the Olympic cut after stopping the clock at 2:39:58 in Australia a fortnight ago.
The qualification time for the women’s marathon is 2 hours 42 minutes.
NAAZ president Tendai Tagara conceded they were racing against the Olympic qualification deadline of July 18.
“Time is running out and we are doing all we can to ensure that we give our athletes the chance to qualify for the Olympics,” he said. “We will soon be sending two female athletes to the Czech Republic so that they try and qualify for Olympics. There are three slots available for women in the marathon category and only one has qualified.”
On the middle and short distances front, Tagara disclosed that several slots were up for grabs still, with Gabriel Mvumvure having qualified for the 100m sprint.
“It’s up to the athletes to stand up and be counted because you just don’t go to the Olympics because your country wants you to be there, you earn the right to be there by meeting the qualifying times” said Tagara.
As the race towards the Olympics heats up female athletes will be out to impress in Marondera for this year’s All-Women Track and Field Championships.
The meet is from May 7 to 8 May at Rudhaka Stadium.
Mashonaland East Athletics Board chairperson Precious Tarakino said they expected top female athletes to attend.
“We are expecting nothing short of a class field and top class performances from the female athletes,” she said.
