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Sports Writer

KHAMI District enjoyed overnight bragging rights after dominating in the Baker’s Inn National Association of Secondary School Heads Bulawayo Province Track and Field Championships at White City Stadium yesterday.

They go into today’s final day leading with 11 gold, 11 silver and 10 bronze medals in a day of pulsating competition in seething heat.

Second on the standings were Reigate District with a haul of 27 medals of which 11 were gold, seven silver and nine bronze.

If yesterday’s performance is anything to go by, Bulawayo will have a top three finish this year following a disastrous performance in 2023 when in Marondera with Matabeleland North and Matabeleland South, they occupied the bottom three positions.

Mzilikazi who were exciting in the sprints had the highest number of medals and lie third with 33 in total, nine gold, 14 silver and 10 bronze.

Mbizo were fourth with 18 medals and Bulawayo Central 16.

There were fireworks on the track as athletes battled for positions in the team and incentives promised by sponsors Baker’s Inn in Victoria Falls in the national finals in which winners there from Bulawayo Province are assured of US$100, runners-up US$50 and third placed US$25.

Andrew Ndlovu of Reigate fired warning shots that he could be one for the future when he won the 10 000m for the Under-21 boys. After a relaxed opening two rounds, Ndlovu eventually found his grip and led in a 1-2-3 finish that ought to give Bulawayo hope for the future. The city has been crying loud for the next long and middle distance prince.

Ndlovu finished the race in 32 minutes 57,43 seconds a good time run in sweltering heat.

Jabulani Ncube of Khami District settled for second in 33 minutes 32,21 seconds and Shalom Muzaviya also of the same team was third in 33 minutes 48,14 seconds.

There were some interesting times in the 100m dash.

In the boys’ Under-16, Tawananyasha Bakare of Bulawayo Central posted 11,12 seconds in the 100m to settle for gold. 

The silver and bronze medals went to Khami whose Amos Mhodyo clocked 11,33 seconds and Nick Mutete 11,52 seconds.

In the boys’ Under-18 Andile Hleza of Mzilikazi clocked 10.90 seconds with teammates Makhosi Sibanda second in 11,26 and Malcom Tafa picking up bronze in 11,31 seconds.

Mzie Ncube of Reigate was the toast of the sprinters winning the boys’ Under-21 gong in 10,54 seconds as his team made it a 1-2-3 with ease as Methembe Tshuma walked away with silver in 10,79 and Alpha Mpofu in 10,90.

In the 400m hurdles, girls’ Under-18 Patience Zvondiwa of Imbizo was first in 72,23 seconds, Mzilikazi’s Thubelihle Mlilo second in 75,19 and bronze medallist Rejoice Dlodlo crossing the line in 75,43.

Basil Jele was superb on his hurdles, clocking 53,28 seconds in the 400m as Bulawayo Central’s Vinny Mtambo achieved a time of 55,21 seconds and Imbizo’s Sandiso Mpofu 60,21 seconds.

Shayne Makota of Mzilikazi marked his arrival on probably Zimbabwe’s big athletics stage with an appetising time of one minutes 55,76 seconds in the boys’ Under-21s. 

Reigate’s Thandazani Ndlovu was second in one minute 59,71 seconds and Ashton Manyange third in 2 minutes 0,065 seconds for Reigate’s bronze.

Competition continues today with finals set for midday when athletes take to the relays (4×100 and 4x400m).