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Ricky Zililo Senior Sports Reporter
ZITF Coca-Cola Four-Minute Mile holder Trust Chidomaya begins his title defence this morning when he faces a field of 38 top athletes in the semi-finals of the event set for White City Stadium at 10AM.

Twenty athletes will qualify for the final to be run at the ZITF’s Main Arena tomorrow morning.

Chidomaya won the 2015 final in four minutes 16 seconds. He booked this year’s semi-final berth last month in four minutes 25 seconds and is looking forward to a tight race.

“I’m well prepared to retain my title and what I know from athletics is that if you’re the reigning champion, it’s not easy to defend your crown. You really have to work hard and I’ve been putting in extra training so that I win the race for a second successive year,” said Chidomaya.

He will have to fend off seasoned runners such as Olympian Wirimai Juwawo, Simbarashe Chigadaga, Kelvin Pangiso, Elijah Mabhunu and Cephas Pasipamire.

“A strong field pushes you to work even harder and I think competing with these guys will work as an extra motivating factor for me and some of the upcoming athletes. It’s going to be a good race that I’m really looking forward to,” Chidomaya said.

Qualified athletes

Levison Mafuva, Boniface Jeki, Simbarashe Chigadaga, Trust Hove, Collen Matende, Charles Makanda (all Black Rhinos), Wirimayi Juwawo (Shabanie Mine), Nkosiyazi Sibanda, Tawanda Matunhu, Vinel Moyo (all Blanket Mine), Jacob Mugomeri (Zimpost Kadoma), Thanks Mapiwa, Dumo Mkwananzi, Thamsanqa Ncube, Bismarck Ndlovu, Ntando Maphosa, Hlalani Ngwenya, Vincent Dube (all Sparrows), Tendai Zimuto, Wellington Varevi, Nyasha Mutsetse, Titus Nyathi, Nyasha Chiutsva (all Harare Athletics Club), Kelvin Gundani (Ziscosteel), Willard Mutasa(One Brigade), Admire Chiurawa (Mashonaland East), Respect Chinosiya (Masvingo), Kenias Mabone(Banket), Amon Moyo, John Payarira, Barberton Mhlanga, Trust Chidomaya, Isaac Mpofu (ZRP Fairbridge), Jonathan Chinyoka, Kelvin Pangiso (ZPCS), Phathisa Ngwabi (Hwange), Elijah Mabhunu, Cephas Pasipamire (ZRP Harare), Blessed Chidziva (independent)