daniel chigunwe
Ellina Mhlanga
Zimpapers Sports Hub
AFTER an outstanding performance at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games, sprinter Makanakaishe Charamba is looking at another exciting season as he eyes qualification for the forthcoming World Athletics Championships.
The meet is scheduled for September 13 to 21 in Tokyo, Japan.
The United States-based athlete made the men’s 200m final at the Olympics and finished eighth.
“After the Olympics, I had a whole month just to rest and refresh and reset for the off-season training.
“I was out basically the whole of September, then I started lifting in October. Then we got back on the track the second week of October. I have just been working,” said Charamba.
“Yes, I am considering going to the World Championships, and all I can say is I am going to qualify for the World Championships.
“Right now, we are in indoor season, and I have just been working on my craft.
“I have been working on the few areas that I didn’t get right in Paris, and now we are just using the Paris races as a stepping stone to the World Championships.
“We are just correcting a few areas that I messed up in Paris at the Olympic Games, and now we are just taking that to the World Championships and then to the NCAA Outdoor season.
“I am looking forward to a good season. I have been training hard, and I believe I am going to qualify.”
While for the Olympics he made the cut for 200m, for the global meet he is hoping to qualify for both 100m and 200m.
The qualifying time for 100m is 10.00 seconds, and for 200m, it’s 20.16 seconds.
Charamba is confident he will attain the entry standards as he builds on his Olympics experience.
“This season I am going to be doing the 100m. Last year I didn’t do the 100m, so this year I am going to be doing the 100m and 200m.
“With the experience that I got in Paris, I feel like it’s a confidence booster as to the upcoming season.
“And I am just going to use that to fuel me and give me confidence that I can do anything if I just put my mind to it.
“I am just going to have fun, execute, and have the best race that I can,” said Charamba.
In an interview with Zimpapers Sports Hub recently, United States-based triple jumper Chengetayi Mapaya said Charamba and Tapiwanashe Makarawu’s Olympic Games’ performance is a motivation.
Makarawu, also making his maiden appearance at the Games, placed sixth in the 200m final.
“I definitely want to be at the World Championships and make the finals and just be in the same boat as Makarawu and Charamba.
“I definitely want to do better. But I want to make sure my target is to make the final and be ranked as one of the best jumpers,” said Mapaya.
Makarawu has already booked a place for himself at the championships after running the 200m qualifying time during the Olympics.
