Zimbabwe’s track and field star Ngonidzashe Makusha will be out to redeem himself when he takes part in his favourite event — the long jump — at the World Athletics Championships Thursday in Daegu, South Korea.
Makusha, the reigning United States National Collegiate Athletic Association champion in both the 100 metres and the long jump, was tipped to at least qualify for the 100 metres final, but failed to advance finishing fifth in his semi-final heat in 10,27 seconds.
The Zimbabwean record holder for both the 100m and long jump will however will try to make amends when he takes part in the qualifying round of the long jump. With the world’s second-best leap this season (8,40m) under his belt, Makusha will be one of the favourites to easily qualify for the final Friday.
The world record in the men’s long jump event stands at 8,95m and was set by American Mike Powell in the third edition of the IAAF World championships in Tokyo, Japan, in 1991 and it marked its 20th anniversary on Tuesday.
Makusha started off as a specialist long jumper before making an immediate impact in his first few races as a sprinter and will no doubt be determined to make his mark in the long jump after coming agonisingly close to winning a bronze medal at the Beijing Olympic Games in 2008.
This time he is likely to face stiff competition from Australian jumper Mitchell Watt, Olympic champion Irving Saladino of Panama and the American duo of champion Dwight Phillips and Will Claye.