AAM gears up for C’Wealth Games

Athletics Association of Malawi (AAM) has lined up two competitions at Ku Chawe in Zomba and Bingu National Stadium (BNS) in Lilongwe to identify 10 athletes that will represent the country at the Commonwealth games scheduled for  Australia in January next year.

The association will hold two competitions—a marathon and track and field event—between this month and October.

AAM secretary general Frank Chitembeya said the Ku Chawe race will be held this month with sponsorship from Sunbird Tourism Limited.

Chitembeya said the marathon, to be held in Zomba, will cover 21 kilometres while the track and field event will be held at BNS next month.

“We do not want to send tourists to Australia but rather quality athletes that will bring medals for the country. We are appealing to all to come and expose their potential for consideration,” he said.

In August, the country participated in the International Athletics Association Federation (IAAF), London Marathon with a sole representative, Ndacha Mcherenje, who finished on position 44 out of 77 athletes.

Malawi’s best record is currently at 2:18:18:02 set by Mike Tebulo at the 2010 Commonwealth Games in New Delhi, India, where he missed bronze having finished on fourth position.

The current IAAF world record for men is at 2: 02:57 set by Dennis Kimetto of Kenya on September 28 2014 at the Berlin Marathon in Germany.

On his part, Nalise Chirwa from Mzuzu, who recently scooped first position in the  inaugural local 21-kilometre Standard Bank Be More Race, said she is looking forward to the two competitions.

“I am preparing for the two races. It is good that one of it will be conducted at the newly-built stadium, since it has facilities of international standard,” she said. n