ZIMBABWEAN sprinters Tapiwanashe Makarawu and Makanakaishe Charamba qualified to the finals of the 200m finals at the Paris Olympics in France last night.
Both finished third in their respective heats but booked their spots into tonight's finals as non-automatic qualifiers.
They will face off with some of the world's best sprinters in search of a historic podium finish.
Makanakaishe Charamba was the first Zimbabwean in the track in Heat 1 and managed to clock 20.31seconds behind winner Letsile Tebogo of Botswana (19.96) and USA sprinting superstar Noah Lyles who finished second with a time of 20.08.
Makarawu competed in Heat 3 which was claimed by American Erriyon Knighton with a time of 20.09. Joseph Fahnbulleh of Liberia finished second with a time of 20.12 while Makarawu clocked 20.16 to cross the finish line and qualify as one of the fastest losers to ensure that Africa have a strong representation in the final.
Another merican sprinter Kenny Bednarek also qualified by winning the other heat with a time of 20.00 seconds, ahead of Alexander Ogando of Dominic Republic who secured his ticket to the final after his impressive second-place finish in 20.09.
Defending champion Andre de Grasse of Canada ran his heat in 20.41 seconds and failed to qualify for the final.
The top six qualifiers finished within the top two spots in their heat, while Charamba and Makarawu marked the next two fastest times overall.
- 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
