The Sunday Mail
Tinashe Kusema
US-based Zimbabwean triple jump ace Chengetayi Mapaya is a man on fire.
This follows the 22-year-old Texas Christian University junior adding yet another notch under his belt when he broke the Cushing Stadium record during last weekend’s Texas A&M Invitational meet.
The record not only saw the Olympic aspirant win a gold medal, but his 16,78-metre jump saw him break the facility record, and currently leaves him ranked fourth in the world and third in the NCAA this year.
“Yeah, it’s been a great start of the outdoor season,” said Mapaya from his US base.
“As my nickname says, I am Du Airlines, and planes fly outdoors.
“I am very excited for the outdoor season; I am ready to fly and this was just the start of better things to come.
“This was the first meet out (outdoor season). I had to make a few minor changes to my technique and it only gets better from this point onwards,” he said.
Mapaya faced a couple of niggles during his first attempts, before the wind broke enough for him to make the 16,78-metre jump during his last legal attempt.
“Technically, I didn’t jump to the best of my abilities, as I had trouble adjusting to the wind (as compared to indoor meet),” he said.
“Getting a record is always something good, especially when you are not at your best, and it will go a long way into boosting my confidence.
“For now, I am on the right path, I am getting ranked with the best jumpers and I am very proud.”
With the outdoor season underway, Mapaya is targeting qualifying for the Olympics.
“Outdoor season is the season where everything happens, and I am very much looking forward to how the next couple of weeks shape up,” said the TCU junior.
