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Ellina Mhlanga in NAIROBI, Kenya

ZIMBABWE coach, Zibusiso Nyoni, says without proper preparations, and lack of competition, it was always going to be tought for his athletes at the World Athletics Under-20 Championships.

Clinton Muunga could not finish his race, in the men’s 200m, while Samkeliso Ndebele was disqualified, in the women’s 200m, at Kasarani Stadium. Muunga pulled a muscle and Ndebele was disqualified for stepping on the line.

For Muunga, it was his second event, after the 100m race, on Wednesday.

‘‘It would have been better if they had managed to have two or three competitions, then they would know where to correct, and where to actually improve,’’ said Nyoni. 

‘‘But, because of the lockdown and the Covid-19, it really affected them.” 

Even if she had not been disqualified, Ndebele appeared to have fizzled out, just after the first 100 metres, lagging behind the rest of the athletes, and was the last to cross the finish line.

“I don’t know what to say, I got into the race hoping to qualify for the semi-finals but things didn’t go as I expected. 

‘‘I feel bad I got disqualified, I am really disappointed,” said Ndebele.

The first four in each heat, and the next four fastest, advanced to the semi-finals.

The Zimbabwean athlete was up against eventual winner in Heat Two, Beatrice Masilingi, from Namibia. 

Masilingi crossed the finish line in 22.65 seconds, followed by Serbia’s Ivana Ilic in 23.71 seconds and Poland’s Marta Zimna was third, in 23.95 seconds.

Sri Lanka’s Medhani Batuwanage came fourth in a time of 24.01 seconds.

The first four, from this heat, were joined by Czech Republic’s Tereza Lamacova, who qualified as one of the next fastest four athletes across the five heats, with a time of 24.23 seconds.

“Although the race did not go as I had hoped for, it’s always good to compete with top athletes from other countries, you get to rate yourself against the best.

“I am not losing hope. 

‘‘This was my first time at the World Junior Championships, so it was a learning experience. I am going to try and qualify for the next World Juniors,” said Ndebele.

Muunga was against Bryan Levell of Jamaica, who came first in 20.90 seconds, in the men’s 200m event, Heat Three.

Uganda’s Tarsis Orogot finished second in 21.28 seconds and Kenya’s Jonathan Wambua was third, in a personal best time, of 21.43 seconds.