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Lovemore Dube in Maseru, Lesotho
A ruthless display in the jumps and track events by Zimbabwe yesterday had the team ending Day Two of the Confederation of Southern Africa Schools Sports Association Track and Field Championships on a high note.Zimbabwe ended the day with 17 gold medals, 21 silver and 14 bronze for a total of 52 medals. Namibia overnight leaders with a good showing in the throws on the first day ended day two on 15 gold, 13 silver and 17 bronze medals with a haul of 45.

The hosts who are finding the going tough were on four gold medals, two silver and as many bronze.

“We’re happy with the way things went in the jumps. We picked up seven out of the 10 gold medals on offer and added another seven silver and bronze. The athletes did us proud,” said Masakadza Makonese one of the jumps coaches.

At the end of business Zimbabwe had accumulated 317 points, Namibia 266 and Lesotho 56.

“We came to the party in track events and jumps,” said Phillip Chikomwe one of the team managers.

Brian Mada’s record of 2013 a hop, skip and jump in the triple jump (14.54m) was bettered by the Zimbabwean duo of Chengeti Mapaya whose mark was 14.92m in the boys’ Under-17 category while Cloud Masibhera was over the record effort with a combined length of 14.78m as Zimbabwe scooped all medals at stake. Lungani Moyo was third in 14.11m.

Zimbabwe also made a clean sweep in the girls’ section of the same age group with Sifelani Mpofu jumping 11.07m, Peace Tizora 11.04m and Dorothy Kavumbura 10.91m for gold, silver and bronze medals respectively.

Tinotenda Matiyenga illuminated the day with a blistering 21.71 seconds 200m.

Second spot went to Phomolo Lekhoana of Lesotho in 21.96 seconds with Abraham Mapiravana taking bronze in 22.00 seconds in the boys’ Under-17 race.

It was a first two for Zimbabwe in the girls’ 200m with Rutendo Chimbaru winning gold in 25.58 seconds. Gabri Mabhena was second in 26.13 seconds.

Namibia’s Juliene Van Zyl was third with a time of 26.29 seconds. In the girls’ Under-14 200m, it was good for Zimbabwe with Abigail Chauruka of Bulawayo’s Greenfield Primary School winning gold in 26.83 seconds. Patience Nkala staked silver in 26.96 seconds with Lesotho’s Sahanoahe Mamakoli third for a bronze medal in 27.23 seconds.

Another of the many gold medals came in the boys’ Under-14 long jump contest with Vulikhaya Dube winning gold with a leap of 5.33m.
Namibia took the other two medals on offer.

Zimbabwe captain Lovejoy Mapfumo scooped gold with a powerful display in the boys’ Under-17 400m in 48.87 seconds. It was his second of the championships after another in the 400m hurdles.

Rudi Pretorious of Namibia was second in 48.88 seconds with bronze coming to Zimbabwe courtesy of Kelton Moyo 48.98 seconds.

Jobson Chidamba settled for silver after being pipped at the dearth of the 3,000m race by Lesotho’s Toka Badboy who clocked 8 minutes 51.48 seconds.

Chidamba who lacked the finishing strength timed 8 minutes 51.71 seconds. Kundakinte Siyakurima was third in 8 minutes 55.94 seconds.

Another meeting highlight for Zimbabwe was the Kariyangwe Mission Express Qhubekani Dube who won the 3,000m in 9 minutes 58.61 seconds. Barring lack of guidance and motivation she looks set to be the next big athlete in middle distances for Zimbabwe. She even beat star Midlands runner Enlitha Ncube to fourth with Namibians taking silver and bronze.

Dube also won gold in the 1,500m.

The Cosassa event ends this afternoon.