Hectic year for athletes

ATHLETES are set to have a busy schedule in 2019 with three international events set to be the highlight of the year.

The World Championships scheduled for September will be the highlight of this year’s athletics calendar with athletes from all over the globe meeting in Doha, Qatar to decide the world’s crème de la crème in the sport.

Top on the list is also the All Africa Games that are billed for Casablanca, Morocco where the best athletes from the continent will meet and the Confederation of African Athletics Under-20 and Under-18 Championships set to be held in April in Abidjan, Ivory Coast.

Bulawayo Athletics Board chairman Manuel Mpofu said the three events are set to keep athletes busy as they seek to conquer on the international stage.

Speaking after BAB’s annual general meeting at White City Stadium, Mpofu said the local athletics season starts on Saturday with the cross country at Luveve and the following day track and field championships will be held at White City.

The national cross country juniors’ event was held yesterday in Harare.

“The international events are going to keep athletes busy as they ensure they are in pristine condition to compete at the highest level.

“We will be having two cross country events a week apart as we seek to select the best athletes to represent the province at the nationals,” he said.

Mpofu said they retained all the marathons that were held in the province last year, with the coming in of the Schweppes Marathon.

Bulawayo will play host to the first leg of the JM Busha Triangular Series on 16 February with the PPC Matopos Marathon scheduled for 6 April and national track and field championships at White City on 28 April.

The Nkulumane Half Marathon is scheduled for 2 June with Bab track and field championships set to take place on 16 June and the Victoria Falls Marathon is on 7 July.

The Rail Trail Half Marathon and Hope Fountain Race will be held in November with the Liquor Hub Fun Run set for December.