The Sunday Mail
Online Reporter
ZIMBABWE’S participation at the World Athletics Championships ended on Friday after Chengetayi Mapaya failed to make the grade for the men’s triple jump finals.
The Texas Christian University (TCU) student finished 12th during the qualification stage of the competition, as his 15,75-metre jump was way below the 17,05m qualifying standard for Saturday’s finals.
It was a similar story for Mapaya’s fellow TCU classmate, Tinotenda Matiyenga, as the 23-year-old failed to progress beyond the heats of the 200m race earlier in the week.
Racing in Heat Three, Matiyenga finished seventh and clocked 20,72 seconds on Monday.
The United States trio of Noah Lyles, Kenneth Bednarek and Erriyon Knighton went on to take the gold, silver and bronze medals, respectively, in Friday’s final of the 200-metre race.
This left marathon runner Isaac Mpofu as Zimbabwe’s best performer after he finished 10th in the men’s marathon on Sunday.
Mpofu’s time of 2 hours, 7 minutes and 57 seconds also saw him break the Zimbabwean record for the event, shaving almost two minutes from Cuthbert Nyasango’s time.
