After having qualified for the B Standard which does not present him automatic qualification, Sibanda has been given another chance to beat his initial time and qualify for A Standard, which will see him join Cuthbert Nyasango, who is already one of the seven that have qualified to represent the country at this prestigious event.
A Standard is reserved for athletes that would have managed to beat the qualifying time of 2 hours 15 minutes Speaking to Standardsport from his base in Mutare, National Athletics Association of Zimbabwe director of coaching and talent identification, Tendai Tagara said they were looking forward to Sibanda making it as the second long distance runner to qualify.
“We hope Sibanda is going to beat the time and qualify with an A Standard. The thing is we are only allowed to forward two athletes that would have qualified through A Standard and only one who would have qualified through B Standard. We cannot send two athletes that have B Standards,” Tagara said.
He said the Blanket Mine athlete had been given two months to fully prepare for the race. Sibanda has been in the B Standard together with other athletes such as Wirimayi Zhuwawo, Gilbert Mutandiro and George Majaji but he has been given another chance to qualify.
Mutandiro was the first to get yet another chance to qualify but went to China where he failed to improve on his time. “Mutandiro went to China where he was supposed to beat a time of 2 hours 15 minutes and 44 seconds but failed to make use of that chance as he came in time of 2 hours 17 minutes.”
In the female category, it is now clear that Sharon Tavengwa will go and represent the country alone in the ladies marathon category. “It is always nice to send athletes that would have beaten the required time rather than sending wild cards,” Tagara said.
Tavengwa beat the required time of 2 hours 37 minutes when she took part in a marathon race in Holland, clocking 2 hours 33 minutes.
