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Innocent Kurira, Sports Reporter
A carnival atmosphere engulfed Bulawayo yesterday, with thousands of spectators thronging White City Stadium to watch the start of the historic primary and secondary schools’ joint national athletics competitions.

The first of its kind, a joint National Association of Secondary School Heads (Nash) and National Association of Primary School Heads (Naph) athletics fiesta runs in the City of Kings until Friday.

Day One provided some thrilling action with Harare Province topping both the Nash and Naph medal tables.

Athletes from the country’s 10 provinces yesterday took part in 100m, 10 000m and 400m final track events, with the field events witnessed on the first day being javelin, discus and shot put.

Harare Province accumulated a total of eight medals in Naph competitions, four gold, three silver and one bronze. In the Nash category, Harare grabbed four gold and four silver medals.

Some of the top performers for Harare included Mazvita Kadoma who won the girls’ Under-13 100m in 12.19 seconds. Oliver Masara ran 10.79 seconds to claim the Under-16 boys’ 100m.

Other top performances on the day were Dickson Kapandura who claimed gold for Matabeleland North in the Under-21 men’s 100m final.

The boys’ 10 000m title went to Norest Mashonga from Mashonaland East, with a time of 34 minutes 28 seconds.

Host’s Bulawayo province found the going tough on the first day of the competition managing only three bronze medals in the Nash category while in the Naph category they got four silver and one bronze medal.

Day two action continues this morning.

Day Medals Table

Nash

Gold     Silver    Bronze    Total
Harare Metro     4     4     0     8
Mash West            3           1     1      5
Masvingo       2      1      2     5
Mat North      2     1      0     3
Mash Central            2       0      1       3
Mash East         1      3        1      5
Midlands       1       2      3       6
Mat South      1     1     3     5
Manicaland     0        4      1    1
Bulawayo       0      0    3    3
Naph

Gold     Silver     Bronze    Total
Harare Metro      4           3             1              8
Masvingo              3           1             1              5
Manicaland          2           0             1             3
Midlands               1           2             1             1
Mash Central        1           0             2            3
Mat South              1           0            0            1
Bulawayo Metro   0          4            1            5
Mash West             0           2            3            5
Mash East               0          2            0            2
Mat North               0          0            1             1