Southern Africa regional championships

Mozambique’s Piliza Leona made a triumphant return to athletics, as Zambia’s new find Rachel Nachula sparkled at the Southern Africa Athletics Championships staged at the National Sports Stadium in Harare, Zimbabwe.

Although the two-day competition was designed as a warm up for the World Athletics Championships due in Helsinki, Finland next months, it also featured several junior events. The region used the event to assist prepare athletes for the World Youth Championships in Marrakech, Morocco next month and the Africa Junior Championships in the Tunisian capital Tunis at the beginning of September.

A spirited surge on the home straight saw Leona (2:08.9) breeze past South Africans Lebohang Phalula (2:09.3) and Lisa van der Merwe (2:10.3), as well as Zimbabwe’s Sharon Tavengwa (2:10.8) to win the senior women’s 800m.

Its great to be back in athletics and I hope this is the start of better things to come,” said a delighted Leona. “I gave up athletics after the 2003 Abuja All Africa Games to concentrate on looking for a job. Once in a while I would run a half marathon. Since I secured a French athletics scholarship two months ago, I am back training in Reunion, I want to compete in the Beijing Olympics,” Leona declared.

Perhaps the biggest revelation of the meet is Zambia’s Rachel Nachula. Running barefoot, Nachula won the senior women’s 400m (53.8) and 200m (24.0). She went on to anchor Zambia’s 4x 400m relay where she held of the challenge from Piliza Leona to propel Zambia (3:47.3) to victory over Mozambique (3:47.6) and South Africa (3:51.3).

Still only 16 years old, Nachula was competing in just her second athletics meet. Her first was the Zambian National Championships in Lusaka. What is immediately striking about Zambia’s new find is the similar physique and background before athletics she shares with Mozambique’s Maria Mutola.

“I have given up playing football because I do not see much of a future in women’s football as compared to athletics. It is encouraging that I have been selected for the team to the World Youth Championships,” says Nachula.

She will have company in Elizet Banda (2:11.45) who was a clear winner in the junior women’s 800m and Tony Wamulwa (8:21.37) a gold medallist in the junior 3000m.

John Zulu is another Zambian who silenced the Zimbabwean crowed when he beat pre-race favourite and homeboy David Tinago in the junior 400m. Zulu clocked 48.5 to Tinago’s 48.6. Zulu and his compatriot Chungu Goodson (1:52.80) who won the junior 800m, can expect stiffer competition at the Africa Junior Championships in September. 

The Zambia Athletics Association Vice President Arnold Chambula explained their strategy leading up to the meet.  “Our success in Harare comes as a result of a deliberate effort to identify and expose fresh talent in schools and rural areas. Since the Samuel Matete retired we have not had much success with the current crop of senior athletes. So our focus is on the teenagers,” says Chambula.

Elsewhere, a 17 year old Zimbabwean Renaldo Naidoo leaped to a distance of 7.06m in the senior men’s long jump. Although placed fifth in the event won by Zambian Richard Chitambe (7.26), Naidoo is all fired up for the World Youth Championships. It’s a pity there were no wind readings as his effort could have been a Zimbabwe junior record.

“Never mind about that, in Morocco I want to finish in the top ten so as to get recognition and perhaps one day I will get invited to bigger international meets. All I want now is to balance the demands of training with my education,” says Naidoo.

Other notable performances came from Namibia’s Hitjivirue Kaanjuka (21.0) in 200m. Botswana’s Gakologelwa Masheto (46.1) in 400m, along with high jumpers Kabelo Mnono (2.15) and Onnanye Ramohube (2.15).

Other include Mozambique’s triple jumper Alfonso Zandamela (15.00), the Mauritius (40.32) 4 x100m relay. Malawi’s Catherine Chikwakwa clinched two gold medals from the 5000m (16:46.1) and 10000m (35:03.6). While Zimbabwean junior sprinter, Larry Butau won the 100m (10.88) and 200m (21.8).

Zambia topped the medal table with 11 gold, 8 silver and 10 bronze medals. Zimbabwe where second with Botswana third and Mozambique fourth.

Mark Ouma for the IAAF

SELECTED RESULTS

NWR denotes No Wind Reading 

MEN 

100m (NWR)
1 Tihalosang Molapisi(Botswana) 10.60
2 Hitjivirue Kaanjuka (Namibia) 10.64
3 Clinton Venter (South Africa) 10.68

200m (NWR)
1 Hitjivirue Kaanjuka (Namibia) 21.0
2 Salang Gaolesiela (Botswana) 21.1
3 Coiffic Fabric (Mauritius) 21.1

400m
1 Gakologelwa Masheto (Botswana) 46.1
2 Obakeng Ngwigwa (Botswana) 46.5
3 Frank Puriza (Namibia) 46.7

110m Hurdles (NWR)
1 Mondre Alberto (Mauritius) 14.71
2 Valin Manuel (Reunion) 14.89
3 Titus Januario (Mozambique) 15.27

400m Hurdles
1 Kurt Couto (Mozambique) 51.9
2 Guhel Lensley (Mauritius) 52.0
3 Antonio Vieillesse (Mauritius) 52.1 

800m
1 Solomon Serameng (Botswana) 1:50.1
2 Trynos Shonahayi (Zimbabwe) 1:50.2
3 Charles Jantjies (South Africa 1:50.6

1500m
1 Gabaitumele Kamanyo (Botswana) 3:48.36
2 Sydney Makuvaza (Zimbabwe) 3:48.72
3 Kudakwashe Shoko (Zimbabwe) 3:48.85 

5000m
1 Cuthbert Nyasango (Zimbabwe) 13:53.60
2 Kelvin Pangiso (Zimbabwe) 13:53.63
3 Tommy Wamuwa (Zambia) 13:54.62 

10,000m
1 Richard Bwalya (Zambia) 30:01.4
2 Hamalila Venry (Zambia) 30:02.7
3 Coolboy Ngamole (South Africa) 30:09.2 

Long Jump (NWR)
1 Richard Chitambe (Zambia) 7.26
2 Carvalho Machuza (Mozambique) 7.21
3 Poncharvilla Willie (Reunion) 7.19 

Triple Jump (NWR)
1 Alfonso Zandamela (Mozambique) 15.00
2 Kelvin Dewa (Zimbabwe) 15.00
3 Shaima Butau (Zimbabwe) 14.09 

High Jump
1 Kabelo Mnono (Botswana) 2.15
2 Onnanye Ramohube (Botswana) 2.15
3 Saloman Taure (Namibia) 2.05 

Javelin
1 Cleophas Chigwende (Zimbabwe) 59.86
2 Ramsamy Fabio (Mauritius) 59.50
3 Phikisani Lokwalo (Botswana) 57.91 

Discus Throw
1 Dumisani Fakudze (Swaziland) 40.01
2 Soul Mujumi (Zimbabwe) 37.23
3 Phikisani Lokwalo (Botswana) 37.01

Shot Put
1 Dumisani Fakudze (Swaziland) 13.33
2 Soul Mujumi (Zimbabwe) 13.05
3 Tonic Taukabong (Botswana) 11.90 

4x100m
1 Mauritius 40.32
2 Zimbabwe 40.52
3 Botswana 40.81 

4x400m
1 Botswana 3:07.6
2 Zimbabwe 3:08.7
3 Mauritius 3:11.9

 

WOMEN 

100m (NWR)
1 Sandra Chimwaza (Zimbabwe) 12.07
2 Thandiwe Vilakazi (South Africa) 12.10
3 Lineo Shoai (Lesotho) 12.34 

200m (NWR)1 Rachel Nachula (Zambia) 24.0
2 Sandra Chimwaza (Zimbabwe) 24.4
3 Lineo Shoai (Lesotho) 24.6 

400m
1 Rachel Nachula (Zambia) 53.8
2 Silba Tjingaete (Namibia) 54.3
3 Elisa Cossa (Mozambique) 55.7

100m Hurdles (NWR)
1 Telma Cossa (Mozambique) 15.02
2 Neima Tivana (Mozambique) 15.68
3 Gamuchirai Gara (Zimbabwe) 16.68 

400m Hurdles
1 Julieta Magaia (Mozambique) 1:08.1
2 Hilda Sinkala (Zambia) 1:13.7
3 Carol Mokola (Zambia) 1:14.1

800m
1 Piliza Leona (Mozambique) 2:08.9
2 Lebohang Phalula (South Africa) 2:09.3
3 Lisa van der Merwe (South Africa) 2:10.3 

1500m
1 Seron Tavengwa (Zimbabwe) 4:23.78
2 Diana Phalula (South Africa) 4:25.11
3  Elizet Banda (Zambia) 4:30.67

5000m
1 Catherine Chikwakwa (Malawi) 16:46.1
2 Samukaliso Moyo (Zimbabwe) 16:53.0
3 Agnes Chikwakwa (Malawi) 17:07.6

10,000m
1 Catherine Chikwakwa (Malawi) 35:03.6
2 Chiedza Chokore (Zimbabwe) 35:53.5
3 Margaret Mahohoma (Zimbabwe) 36:08.8

Long Jump (NWR)
1 Rosia Machava (Mozambique) 5.95
2 Doyana Jollicoeur (Mauritius) 5.69
3 Chella Mjuti (Zambia) 5.55 

Triple Jump (NWR)
1 Mercc Doninque (Reunion) 12.40
2 Namatiraib Mavugara (Zimbabwe) 11.93
3 Daryl Jenny (Reunion) 11.92 

High Jump
1 Ariel Brette (Mauritius) 1.74
2 Gamuchirai Gara (Zimbabwe) 1.55
3 Ntunji Chela (Zambia) 1.55 

Javelin
1 Nthabisene Mahlanzi (Lesotho) 29.62
2 Miriam Mukulama (Zambia) 16.92 

Discus
1 Miriam Mukulama (Zambia) 31.21
2 Ncedie Mngomemethulu (Swaziland) 29.90
3 Sepiso Neeta (Botswana) 29.48

Shot Put
1 Tlhlalefang Seleke (Botswana) 10.10
2 Miriam Mukulama (Zambia) 9.72
3 Aselepele Seloko (Botswana) 9.23 

4x100m
1 Zimbabwe 47.3
2 Mozambique 47.9
3 Zambia 48.9 

4x 400m
1 Zambia 3:47.3
2 Mozambique 3:47.6
3 South Africa 3:51.3

 

SELECTED JUNIOR RESULTS 

BOYS

100m (NWR)
1 Larry Butau (Zimbabwe) 10.88
2 Richard Walman (Namibia) 10.90
3 Gabriel Mvumvure(Zimbabwe) 10.92

200m (NWR)
1 Larry Butac (Zimbabwe) 21.8
2 Nashio Muluwa (Zambia) 22.1
3 Thomas Zimba 22.3 

400m
1 John Zulu (Zambia) 48.5
2 David Tinago (Zimbabwe) 48.6
3 Eugene Chinatakwa (Zambia) 49.9

800m
1 Chungu Goodson (Zambia) 1:52.80
2 Eugene Chintankwa (Zambia) 1:54.35
3 Thomas Mauriko (Mozambique) 1:03.90

3000m
1 Tony Wamulwa (Zambia) 8:21.37
2 Jordan Chipangana (Zambia) 8:28.48
3 Shadrack Mulenge (Zambia) 8:33.69 

Medley Relay (100, 200, 300, 400m)
1 Zambia 1:55.71
2 Zimbabwe 1:56.54

GIRLS

100m (NWR)
1 Tatenda Gorongo (Zimbabwe) 12.28
2 Nobuhle Ncube (Zimbabwe) 12.40
3 Seonyatseng Nthompe (Botswana) 12.50

200m (NWR)
1 Mobuhle Ncube (Zimbabwe) 24.8
2 Donna Muwowo (Zambia) 25.4
3 Kudzani Tenga (Zimbabwe) 25.8

400m
1 Tjipekapora Herunga (Namibia) 56.1
2Talent Kadzima (Zimbabwe) 57.6
3 Dlamini Temalanheni (Swaziland) 58.7

800m
1 Elizet Banda (Zambia) 2:11.45
2 Monica Mhaka (Zimbabwe) 2:12.68
3 Rebecca Nachula (Zambia) 2:15.43

3000m
1 Varaidzo Shindi (Zimbabwe) 9:53.20
2 Shiela Nyikaino (Zimbabwe) 10:05.97
3 Ruth Mwenya (Zambia) 10:06.05

 
COMBINED MEDAL TABLE

                        Gold     Silver    Bronze

Zambia                         11        8          10
Zimbabwe                    10        20        6
Botswana                     7          3          7
Mozambique                6          4          3
Mauritius                      3          3          4
Namibia                       2          3          2
Reunion                        2          1          5
Swaziland                     2          1          1
Malawi                         2          0          1
Lesotho                        1          0          2
South Africa                 0          3          3