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GOING PLACES . . . Cuthbert Nyasango appears to be getting better and, after his good performance in the Prague Marathon at the weekend in the Czech Republic, the National Athletics Association of Zimbabwe believe he could be a good bet for a medal at the Olympic Games next year

Augustine Hwata Senior Sports Reporter
NATIONAL Athletics Association of Zimbabwe president Tendai Tagara believes new Zimbabwe marathon record holder Cuthbert Nyasango has bright chances of challenging for a medal at the next Olympic Games. Nyasango stopped the clock in 2 hours 09 min 52s to win bronze at the Volkswagen Prague International Marathon in Prague, Czech Republic, on Saturday.

The seasoned Zimbabwean runner finished behind the Kenyan duo of Patrick Terer and Evans Chebet.
In coming third, and getting a bronze medal, the former Kuwadzana High School athlete managed to beat the standing national record in the 42km race set by Tendai Chimusasa.

Chimusasa ran an impressive 2:10:57 in Hamburg, Germany, in 1998, while Nyasango’s previous best had been a 2:12:08 set in London.
Yesterday NAAZ president Tagara said Nyasango will join Cephas Pasipamire at the World Championship in China next year.

“The national record was held by Tendai Chimusasa but now we have a new record that was set by Cuthbert.
“It shows that there is so much potential for medals at the Olympic Games in 2016,” said Tagara.

At the last Olympics, Nyasango finished third while running a personal best.
“At the event in Prague, we can see that he has been running with the big boys and if he maintains that progression, then we can talk of a medal in Rio,” said Tagara.

Next year, Nyasango and Pasipamire will travel to China for the world championships.
“So far we have the two athletes qualifying for the World Championships and if they finish within the top 20 then they will be at the Olympics,” said Tagara.