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Ellina Mhlanga Sports Reporter
NATIONAL Athletics Association of Zimbabwe director of coaching, talent identification and development Lisimati Phakamile has urged athletes that will represent the country at the IAAF World Cross-country Championships in Uganda on Sunday to stay focused. Zimbabwe will be fielding four athletes with Wellington Varevi and Rudo Mhonderwa carrying the country’s flag in the senior men and women races while Dumo Mkhwananzi and Dzidzai Gumede will compete in the junior men and women section.

“We are hoping to clock personal best times and getting decent positions. I believe too much focus on opponents diverts one’s focus and usually affects performance,” said Phakamile.

Mhonderwa has been training in South Africa under the guidance of veteran long-distance runner Tabitha Tsatsa ahead of the competition.

Varevi has been working with his coach, Aaron White, who said this is a learning curve for the athlete as their target is Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.

“We have been preparing and I believe he is ready. This being his first World Championship I think the main thing for him is to go there and learn as much as he can.

“So I am not putting him under pressure in terms of position, but our main focus has always been going there to run a good time because I think he should learn to beat his previous best all the time.

“I have been trying to prepare him physically obviously and then mentally. I have been trying to help him psychologically and I believe he is in a good position to run a good time. Our target is Tokyo 2020,” said White.

The four athletes are expected to leave for Kampala, Uganda on Friday.

Initially Tanaka Hove and Tatenda Ndlovu had been selected for the juniors section, but NAAZ president, Tendai Tagara, said they were replaced because of age while Hove did not have a passport.

“It’s the issue of age and passport. The girl is Under-16 and one has to be over 16 years to compete and the boy did not have a passport.”