HAB ready for season opener
MORE than 150 athletes are expected to converge at Allan Wilson School tomorrow for the Harare Athletic Board cross country.
The competition marks the beginning of the 2024 athletics season and most of the participants are hoping to use the event as part of their preparations for future meets.
The season opener event will see participants that include cadets, youths, juniors and seniors competing in the 4km, 6km and 8km races. There is also a 1km race on offer for child athletes, who will be part of the cadets category.
Some of the seasoned athletes expected to take part include Moses Tarakinyu, Jonathan Chinyoka as well as several Mr Pace Athletics Club athletes such as Miriam Sibanda, Wayne Bondo, Precious Makaza and Blessing Tikiti.
Mr Pace Athletics Club founder and coach Collen Makaza said tomorrow’s event is part of their build-up to the season.
“This is part of our 2024 season preparation and conditioning phase. So we are just going to take part. Our aim is to participate and finish the race, and also to experience competition early,” said Makaza.
Sibanda was among the leading female distance runners last season winning a couple of half marathons and is looking forward to the competition.
“So far I am just starting my preparations for the season, so I am not yet fully fit but I will see how it goes on Sunday. I have been in training for almost two weeks now, so it’s still early for me.
“But what I can say is I can also use this event to see the areas I still need to work on. After that, my first competitive race is the Old Mutual Harare Marathon. I will compete in the 21km race,” said Sibanda.
The senior men and women are set to battle it out in 8km.
She is likely to face competition from her teammate Precious Makaza, who is preparing to compete in more marathon events this year.
Makaza said she is ready for the competition.
“I have been training all along. I did not take a break during the off-season period. So I was training every day and I am hoping to make top three on Sunday.
“This cross country is one of the events that I was targeting.
“So I am ready for competition, I believe I can face anyone because I never stopped training and I know some of the athletes were resting.
“This year I am targeting to run at least five or six marathons including an ultra-marathon, that is the Matopos 53km race.
“My goal is to improve my times this year especially in the 42km races,”said Makaza. HAB vice-chairperson Aaron Whyte said they are ready to stage the competition.
“We are expecting above 150 runners. As a trend, Under-18 has more runners because most are still active in school sport.
“Competition is going to be top notch and of high quality.
“Most of these athletes are coached by top class coaches like Makaza, Cuthbert Nyasango, Cephas Pasipamire, Tabitha Tsatsa, Shepherd Moyo and many others. So, it’s a clash of coaching wit as well.
“We have got a partner, Bliv Sports, who is bringing in medals for the top three in each category for both male and female,” said Whyte.