Zimpapers Logo

Ricky Zililo Sports Reporter
BULAWAYO Athletics Board will during the next five weeks hold trials for the 2015 edition of the ZITF Four-Minute Mile race in the city. The Delta Beverages sponsored competition traditionally takes place in April during the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair. The Fair will this year run from April 28 to May 2. Bulawayo trials are set for White City Stadium on Sunday where the country’s athletes will converge for the national track and field championships.

The qualifying time for the ZITF Delta Beverages Four-Minute Mile race is four minutes 31 seconds. Those who run within this time proceed to the finals.

“All athletes who want to compete at the finals will have to go through qualifiers. We’re going to have four qualifying events in Bulawayo and one in Harare on April 4. We expect big turnouts at all qualifying events,” said Bab chairman Manuel Mpofu.

Mpofu said plans were underway to hold the Four-Minute Mile trials in Bindura today after the Naph track and field championships.

Last year Wellington Varevi of Blanket Mine won the race in four minutes 17 seconds to pocket $800 while Wirimai Juwawo was the first runner-up and took home $400.

The $350 prizemoney for the third placed athlete went to Isaac Mpofu of ZRP Fairbridge who finished the race two seconds after Varevi.

The 2013 ZITF Four-Minute Mile champion Simbarashe Chigagada finished in position four.

Elijah Mabhunu from Mashava was fifth in four minutes 24 seconds with South Africa-based Givemore Mudzinganyama sixth in a time of four minutes two seconds.