ZIMBABWEAN sprinters Tapiwanashe Makarawu and Makanakaishe Charamba are both relaxed and pressure-free ahead of their 200m semi-finals that they will compete in at the Paris Olympics.
Both finished second in their respective heats to storm into tonight’s semi-finals, where they meet some of the world’s top sprinters.
Charamba is in the same heat as America’s Noah Lyles, who is both the Olympic and World 100m champion as well as Botswana’s Letsile Tebogo, among others.
Makarawu will compete with the United States’ Erriyon Knighton, South Africa’s Wayde van Niekerk as well as Joseph Fahnbulleh of Liberia.
There are three heats for the semis, where the top two athletes get automatic qualification to the final and will be joined by the two fastest athletes outside the top two of each heat.
Makarawu finished the race in 20.07 seconds, while Charamba arrived home in 20.27 seconds and they will line up for the semis around 8pm local time.
While he is not putting himself under any pressure, Makarawu said he would go back to the drawing board and see how he can try and get himself in the finals.
The sprinter will be hoping to better his personal best time of 19.93 seconds. If Makarawu can run sub 20 seconds, he gives himself a good chance in the otherwise stellar line up.
- Zim sprinter hopes dashed
- Sprint stars in the spotlight
- Makarawu and Charamba through to the 200m Olympics final
- For the hatred of a wannabe Goebbels
Keep Reading
“Nothing much to prepare [for the semi-finals]. The work has already been done and I am just going to relax, talk to my coach and he will tell me some tricks and ways to run in semis. He has got experience . . . he will know what to do for me to adjust and probably how we can get to the finals,” Makarawu said.
The sprinter was particularly pleased that he avoided the repechage which was done yesterday as going through that route would have compromised his chances in the semi-finals.
“I am super excited for that because the repechage was going to drain my energy ahead of the semis. So tomorrow [yesterday], I will spend the day relaxing, recharging and be ready for the semis,” he said.
Makarawu and Charamba have put up the best performances so far at these Games by Team Zimbabwe.
“I am excited that Charamba and I can race at this stage. In the past, it has been swimming and the marathons at the Olympics. Now we are doing well in the sprints, which means even our 4x100m relay would be a big threat to the world,” Makarawu said.
Charamba is also relaxed ahead of the semi-finals and hopes to put up another good performance and let everything else take care of itself.
“I am just going back and relax a bit, hydrate and then get back to the drawing board and talk to my coach,” he said after Monday’s heats.
“The experience is great and this is my first individual and national championship. I’m just cherishing the moment and having fun and see what is happening.”
He added: “I will just look forward to a great semi-final and probably make it to the final. I don’t really have huge expectations, but to enjoy myself.
“I am happy that we both managed to put Africa on the map. Now they know that Africa is not a continent to play with.”
