AAM targets 32 athletes for international events
Athletics Association of Malawi (AAM) will identify 32 athletes from this Saturday’s National Track and Field Championship at Kamuzu Institute for Sports (KIS) in Lilongwe to represent the country at two international competitions this month.
According to AAM general secretary Frank Chitembeya, the best 20 junior athletes will be sent to South Africa for the Southern Africa Junior Athletics Championship between June 22 and 26 while 12 senior athletes will travel to Zambia for the African Senior Athletics Championship between June 17 and 18.
“This will be the first time for us to send a large number of athletes to international events. This has been done deliberately so as to increase our chances of qualifying for the Rio 2016 Olympics in Brazil,” Chitembeya said.
“It is our hope that from a team of 32 athletes, three or four will meet qualifying times or requirements for the Olympics because we are tired of participating in such a prestigious global event on solidarity.”
He said athletes have to give their all during this weekend’s National Track and Field Championships if they are to be among the 32 lucky individuals.
The competition will have track events such as 100-metre sprints, 5 000-metre race and relays alongside field events such as Javelin, discus and long jump.
One of the country’s prolific athletes Grevazio Mpani said he is more than ready to make the grade for the African Championship in Zambia.
“I am prepared for the National Track and Field Championship, where I will take part in 5 000-metre race. I will run my lungs out so as to qualify for the continental championships in Zambia,” he said.
