Phineas Mukwazo in Beijing, China
ZIMBABWE long distance queen Olivia Chitate opens her account at the IAAF World Championships here when she takes part in the first round of the 5,000m event this morning. Chitate will compete in the first of the two heats. She will line up against the likes of Genzebe Dibaba of Ethiopia, who won gold in the 1,500M final on Tuesday, and Kenyans Mercy Cherono and Irene Cheptai in a heat comprising 13 athletes.

The other heat has 14 runners. The top five athletes from each heat and the next five fastest will advance to the finals.

Chitate held her final preparations yesterday morning under the watchful eye of coach Pakamile Lisimati.

Chitate got a wild card entry after Zimbabwe was given a single female slot. She got the nod ahead of the country’s other female athletes following a string of impressive times at recent events such as the SARPCO Games in Swaziland and the World Cross Country Championships in March.

Meanwhile, South Africa won their first gold medal yesterday when Wayde van Niekerk won the men’s 400M final in a world leading time of 43,48 seconds, while Kenya bagged their fifth gold medal when Hyvin Jepkemoi came first in the 3,000M steeplechase women’s final.

Following Usain Bolt’s last-gasp 100M victory over controversial American rival Justin Gatlin, the two will square off this evening in the 200M final after both cruised to easy semi-final wins yesterday.

Gold, silver and bronze medallists at the championships will pocket $60,000, $30,000 and $20,000 respectively.

The winners of the relays will pocket $80,000, $40,000 and $20,000, while an athlete or team setting a new world record will get $100,000.

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