CHAUKE BACKS MPOFU
SEASONED athletics coach Benson Chauke says they are hoping for the best as they intensify their build-up for Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
Chauke is in charge of marathon runner Isaac Mpofu’s training for the Games.
Mpofu earned his ticket to the Olympics when he ran 2hours 6minutes 48seconds at the Valencia Marathon in December, 2022.
The qualifying time for men’s marathon is 2hours 8minutes 10seconds and 2hours 26minutes 50seconds in the women’s section. “It’s everyone’s desire, as a coach or an athlete, you would want the athlete to one day be there. You would want to have worked with someone who in the history of the country would get there.
“Our desire has always been to do our best. If the podium is achievable the better. But looking at Isaac’s times 2:06, the Olympics, the World Championships are not won by any times that are far from that time.
“So, if we have the capacity to run such times in other races, we are just praying that on this day we might also give them a good show in terms of the times, 2:06, maybe this year it might be even faster, maybe a 2:05. But Isaac is not very far from this time.
“So, he is within range, it’s there. So the desire is to do your best and probably attempt to get there. If you don’t, but you will also want to be in the top five, maybe top 10 or top eight,” said Chauke.
Some of the athletes Chauke has worked with before include Cuthbert Nyasango, who made the top 10 at the London 2012 Olympic Games, crossing the finish line on position seven in 2hours 12minutes 8seconds.
“The discipline in the two is the same, the focus, the hunger to do well is there in the two. Nyasango is a more endurance person whereas Isaac is more of a power but speedy guy, no wonder why his times are way ahead of what Cuthbert was able to achieve at the Olympics.
“At both Olympics and even the World Championships you realise this one is faster maybe training methods have changed, a lot of improvements and a lot of legal supplements and stuff.
“Things have changed.”