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Ellina Mhlanga  Senior Sports Reporter 

SPRINTER Ngoni Makusha was scheduled to be on the track this morning for the men’s 100m preliminary round.

He was set to face Hassan Saaid of Maldives, Nathan Crumpton of American Samoa, Shaun Gill from Belize, Sha Mahmood Noor Zahi of Afghanistan, Lataisi Mwea of Kiribati, Nicaragua’s Yeykell Eliuth Romero, Togo’s Fabrice Dabla and Sokong Pen of Cambodia in Heat One. 

There were three heats for the men’s 100m preliminary round. 

The first three in each heat, and the next fastest, advance to Round One, also scheduled for today. 

Speaking ahead of the race, Makusha said he was confident of progressing to Round One, also scheduled for today.  

“It’s really wonderful. It’s a nice experience and the vibe is just something else. The preparations have been alright.

“I’m feeling good and ready to go, quite exciting to see what I will do. 

“My expectations are just to make it to the next round and, if I can break my personal best, in the process, the better. 

“I’m quite confident to proceed to the next round, I have prepared well…I have learnt to be calm about everything and just concentrate on the race and not think about the pressure,” said Makusha. 

He got the universality slot awarded to Zimbabwe by World Athletics after local athletes failed to reach the qualifying standards.

Makusha was one of the athletes earmarked for qualification to the Games but could not make the qualifying standards. 

His personal best time is 10.17 seconds and a season best time of 10.26 seconds. 

The Zimbabwe athlete is ranked 254 on the world rankings. 

Coach David Tinago was also hopeful of progressing to the next round. 

“In terms of preparations, everything seems to be in order, everything went well and we managed to put in some session and based, on the sessions, everything is looking good. 

“All we are focusing on is just to get to the next round and try to execute each and every phase, that we have been working on. 

“Basically, everything is okay,” said Tinago.

In rowing, Peter Purcell-Gilpin concluded his participation at the Games yesterday, and was ranked 20 out of 32 rowers, in the men’s single sculls.

Purcell-Gilpin, competing at the Olympics for the first time, was second in Final D, in 7 minutes 03.85 seconds. 

He had finished fourth in semi-final C/D in 7 minutes 01.72 seconds, which saw him going to final D.  

The gold medal went to Stefanos Ntouskos of Greece. 

Norway’s Kjetil Borch got silver and Croatia’s Damir Martin settled for bronze. 

Other members of Team Zimbabwe have completed their events.

They are swimmers Donata Katai and Peter Wetzlar. 

Golfer Scott Vincent was scheduled to continue with his efforts in the men’s golf event, which ends tomorrow.