Innocent Kurira, Sports Reporter
BULAWAYO Metropolitan Province on Friday concluded a thrilling Baker’s Inn National Association of Secondary School Heads Inter-District Athletics Championships at White City Stadium, where athletes showcased exceptional talent and competitiveness.
The event was held on Thursday and Friday. It was used to select a team for the inter-provincial championships set for next month.
Mzilikazi District emerged victorious, securing 39 gold medals, 32 silver and 28 bronze.
Reigate District followed closely, earning 22 gold, 27 silver and 19 bronze medals, while Khami District was on third with 19 gold, 23 silver and 26 bronze medals.
In fourth place was Bulawayo Central with 14 gold, eight silver and eight bronze medals.
The championship featured athletes from various districts, including Mzilikazi, Reigate, Khami, Bulawayo Central and Imbizo.
The event not only provided thrilling entertainment but also served as a crucial qualifier for the upcoming national championships at Chipadze Stadium in Bindura, Mashonaland Central Province at the end of the month.
The spotlight shone brightest on the boys’ short-distance events, where a fierce rivalry between three athletes added extra drama to the competition in the Under-20 boys’ category. The category saw the 100m race won by Methembe Tshuma of Reigate District who proved his dominance, claiming gold with a time of 10,46 seconds. His performance was closely followed by Makhosi Sibanda from Mzilikazi District, who finished second with a time of 10,64 seconds. Prince Moyo of Reigate also put in a commendable effort, securing third place with a time of 10,84 seconds.
Tshuma continued to shine, going on to claim gold again in the 200m boys’ final, finishing in 21,38 seconds, well ahead of Moyo, who completed the race in 22.49 seconds.
Sibanda would also have his moment of glory, later claiming gold in the 400m with a strong finish of 49,22 seconds, demonstrating his versatility across multiple distances.
The Under-20 boys’ 800m race saw Dumisani Mbonqane of Reigate take top honours with a winning time of 1:58.91, continuing the district’s impressive showing throughout the event.
On the girls’ side, Angeline Mkaratigwa of Mzilikazi District stood out in the Under-20 100m final, clinching gold with a time of 12,77 seconds. She edged Rejoice Dlodlo of Reigate, who finished second in 13,01 seconds, while Remoneile Sebata of Bulawayo Central completed the top three in 13,19 seconds.
Other notable performances included Tinashe Mpofu from Reigate, who emerged victorious in the Under-20 boys’ 10 000m with a time of 34 minutes,and Tawananyasha Mukarati from Imbizo, who claimed gold in the Under-18 boys’ 100m with an impressive 10,94 seconds.
The competition was fierce across the board, with Mzilikazi District emerging as the overall winners in the team standings, capturing 39 gold, 32 silver and 28 bronze medals. Reigate followed closely in second place with 22 gold, 26 silver and 19 bronze medals, while Khami secured third place with 19 gold, 23 silver, and 24 bronze. Other districts like Bulawayo Central and Imbizo also showcased their athletic talents, rounding out the top five.
The event was made even more special by the support of Baker’s Inn, who sponsored the championship.
Head in charge of athletics in the Bulawayo Metropolitan Province Sikhumbuzo Ndlovu, said competition was high and this year they had set themselves a tall order by using last year’s national finals held in Victoria Falls as a barometer to be used for selection.
This time around, for the national finals set for 1 to 4 April in Bindura, he said they would only carry medal hopefuls.
Baker’s Inn Sales and Distribution regional manager, Raymond Maqethuka Dube, reiterated his company’s commitment to the Bulawayo team. He said they would sponsor them up to the finals in Bindura.
He said their association with the province started last year and is happy that four athletes who were part of Team Bulawayo made the grade to US Scholarships.
He commended Baker’s Inn for turning out to be all-weather friends for them.
