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Ellina Mhlanga Sports Reporter

FOLLOWING a disappointing outing at the World Relays over the weekend in Poland, National Athletics Association of Zimbabwe director for coaching, talent identification and development, Lisimati Phakamile, has urged the athletes to remain focused.

The Zimbabwe men’s 4x100m relay team took part at the fifth World Relays that were held on Saturday and Sunday with the top eight teams qualifying for the Olympics.

But Zimbabwe missed out when finishing sixth in 40.54 seconds in their heat.

Zimbabwe sent a five-man team including one reserve – Dickson Kamungeremu, Ngoni Makusha, Makanaka Charamba, Rodwell Ndlovu and Itayi Vambe.

However, some of the athletes such as Makusha and Kamungerumu have also targeted qualification in individual races and are still in pursuit of the qualifying times in 100m and 200m events.

Phakamile said after the disappointment, they need to move on and focus on other upcoming competitions.

“Our athletes have to go back to the track, have to keep working on their individual performances and their individual times.

“Remember the individual athletes’ times contribute to the overall team’s time. So the athletes’ careers are not entirely on this event but we still have the Africa Senior Championships that are coming up.

“We still have the Olympics that are coming up, so all our athletes are still having a chance to qualify for any other competition or championship. We still have a lot of competitions that are coming up and we don’t have to bow down our heads and cry over the event that has gone, this is water under the bridge.

“We just simply encourage our athletes to pick up themselves, look up and continue training in preparation for any other competitions that are coming. We still have a lot of championships that these guys need to come in and also perform and work as individuals and as teams as well,” said Phakamile.

The Africa Senior Championships are expected to take place from June 1 to 5 in Algeria. It’s also an opportunity for those seeking qualification to the Olympics.