TOP Zimbabwe sprinter Tapiwanashe Makarawu has once again put Zimbabwe on the global athletics map, securing his spot in the men’s 200m final at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, Japan.
The 25-year-old sprinter advanced with a time of 19.98 seconds, finishing third in his semifinal heat.
His time was the slowest among the eight qualifiers, but it was enough to see him through to the final.
This marks the second consecutive major championship final for Makarawu, who previously competed in the 200m final at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
The achievement is a testament to Makarawu’s consistency at the highest level of sprinting.
At last year’s Olympics in Paris, he finished a respectable sixth place with a time of 20.10 seconds, while his compatriot Makanakaishe Charamba finished eighth in 20.53 seconds.
Unfortunately, Charamba, another rising star in his own right, will not be joining Makarawu in the final this time.
The 23-year-old narrowly missed out on qualification, clocking a time of 20.03 seconds and finishing third in his semifinal heat.
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The final is set to be a highly competitive affair, with a star-studded field including American sprint sensation Noah Lyles, who ran the fastest time in the semifinals at 19.51 seconds.
Other top contenders include Jamaica’s Bryan Levell (19.78) and America’s Kenneth Bednarek (19.88).
Makarawu’s presence in the final ensures that the eyes of the athletics world, and particularly those of Zimbabwe, will be on him as he competes for a medal.
