The Sunday News
Senior Sports Reporter
AT least 30 athletes have so far qualified for the annual Zimbabwe International Trade Fair Coca-Cola Four Minute Mile ahead of the semi-finals on Friday which will be followed by the actual race the following day. Race co-ordinator Dailes Bingadadi said 30 athletes had met the qualifying times adding that Cephas Pasipamire and Kelvin Phangiso will be given an
opportunity to try book their place in the semi-finals this weekend as they had missed the qualifiers while they were in Korea attempting to make it to the Rio Olympics marathon. The last qualifiers will be held at White City Stadium tomorrow and Tuesday with the cut off time being four minutes 31 seconds.
“We have 30 athletes who have qualified so far, Cephas Pasipamire and Kelvin Phangiso who are based in Harare have asked to be allowed to participate in the qualifiers because they were in Korea for Olympic marathon qualifiers, during this weekend it should be known if they have qualified,’’ said Bingadadi.
From the semi-finals which are either going to be held at White City Stadium or Gifford High School, Bingadadi revealed that they were looking at 20 athletes to participate in the main race at ZITF arena on Saturday. The runners will compete in two batches in the semi-finals. She believes that 20 is a manageable number which is two more than the 18 who ran in last year’s race.
From the information supplied by Bingadadi, Levison Mafuva of Black Rhinos has the best qualifying time of four minutes 15 seconds.
Zimbabwe Republic Police athlete Trust Chidomaya won last year’s Coca-Cola Four Minute Mile in a time of four minutes 16 seconds. Pasipamire came in second place while Jonathan Chinyoka took third spot. Chidomaya pocketed $800, $500 went to Pasipamire and Chinyoka got $450. Indications are that the prize structure will remain the same for the race which is sponsored by world leading beverage company Coca-Cola together with its bottling partner Delta Beverages.
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 (all Sparrows), Tendai Zimuto, Wellington Varevi, Nyasha Mutsetse, Titus Nyathi(all Harare Athletics Club), Kalvin Gundani(Ziscosteel), Willard Mutasa(One Brigade), Ntando Maphosa, Hlalani Ngwenya(Sparrows), Admire Chiurawa(Mashonaland East ), Respect Chinosiya(Masvingo), Kenias Mabone(Banket), Amon Moyo, John Payarira, Barberton Mhlanga (ZRP Fairbridge), Jonathan Chinyoka (ZPCS Harare)
