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Ellina Mhlanga Sports Reporter
UNITED States-based Tatenda Tsumba became the second track and field event athlete to attain qualification standard for the 2016 Olympic Games when he ran a qualifying time in 200m over the weekend in his base. The qualifying time is 20:50seconds and Tsumba, who is on scholarship at Brigham Young University in Utah, ran 20:44 seconds at an event held at the USA Olympic Training Centre on Sunday.

Tsumba’s achievement comes after Gabriel Mvumvure qualified for the Games in April. National Athletics Association of Zimbabwe director of coaching, talent identification and development Lisimati Phakamile said they were excited about the development.

“He qualified over the weekend in the United States. Actually we are quite excited on Tatenda’s qualification. “We have noted as an association that he is very consistent in his performances. He has qualified for the World championships that was last year. And this time around he has went on to qualify for the Olympics.

“We will be banking on him to represent us. For now we are saying he is getting used to competing at these big events and in two to three years’ time we should expect a medal from him,” said Phakamile. Other athletes that have qualified for the Olympics in athletics are long distance runners, Wirimai Juwawo, Cuthbert Nyasango, Pardon Ndhlovu and Rutendo Nyahora, who will be running in marathon. While Tsumba attained the qualification standard over the weekend, it was a different story for the team that took part at the Africa Senior championships in Durban, South Africa as they found the going tough.

Zimbabwe had 25-member taking part in the competition that was also serving as a platform for qualification to the Olympics in August and the World Junior championships to be held in Poland next month. The best performance came from Mvumvure, who reached the 200m finals, 4x400m men and women relay teams that also reached the finals.

Despite the failure by the team to win medals at the continental event, National Athletics Association of Zimbabwe president, Tendai Tagara, feels they are making progress in their efforts to produce athletes that can challenge for medals in such competition as the Africa Senior championships.