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Geophrey Sifani, Sports Reporter
BULAWAYO Athletics Board (BAB) chairman Manuel Mpofu has urged athletes to put more effort at the National Athletics Association of Zimbabwe (NAAZ) open track and field event at White City Stadium on Sunday as it will be used to select a provincial team for the national championships.

The national championships have been set for May in Bulawayo.

Sunday’s event will also be used to select athletes for the African Senior Championships as well as for qualification for the Olympics and World Junior Championships.

Mpofu encouraged athletes to put more effort for them to qualify for the prestigious competitions.

“There are a lot of international competitions that we’re looking forward to fielding teams in and it’s a great opportunity for our athletes to fight to represent the province. Over the years we have contributed a number of athletes and we want to continue with that trend,” said Mpofu.

The event will feature veteran athletes such as Munyaradzi Javi, Jacob Mugomeni and Elijah Mabhunu, among others.

“We will also have Mbizo Club from Kwekwe competing as well as Paralympic athletes. We hope a sizeable crowd will turn up to cheer the athletes so they can record good times.”

There will also be a qualifier for the Coca-Cola four-minute mile race whose finals will be at the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair exhibition. To qualify for the finals, athletes have to beat a time of four minutes 31 seconds.