ZIMBABWE’S sole representative at the on-going International Association of Athletics Federation (Iaaf) World Indoor Championships, Gabriel Mvumvure is disappointed after crushing out in the semi-final II of the 60m dash in Portland, Oregon in United States on Friday night.
BY Munyaradzi Madzokere
The sprinter, who is looking to qualify for Rio Olympic Games later this year finished sixth in the second semi-final in 6,68 seconds, four split seconds below his season-best time of 6,64.
“It’s not where I wanted to be. I was hoping for a personal best time of 6,60 seconds, but it is also more than three weeks since my last competition and it could have slowed me a little,” he said.
Mvumvure (27), who has enjoyed an impressive start to the indoor athletics season after making a comeback from a career-threatening illness, qualified for the semis after finishing second to Great Britain’s James Dasaolu in Heat Two earlier in the day.
American Treyvon Bromell eventually won the 60m championship ahead of veteran Jamaican sprint king Asafa Powell, clocking 6,47 while the Jamaican romped home in 6,50 seconds.
The indoor championships formed part of Mvumvure’s preparations for the Olympics where he will be looking to qualify for both the 100m and 200m races.
“Since August, I have a scholarship from Olympic Solidarity to help me prepare for the 2016 season so I will now try to open my outdoor season early to try and get good times and be able to get good meets and eventually make it to Rio,” said the former Churchill High School student.
