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Malawi’s top athletes Francis Munthali and Catherine Chikwakwa on Saturday proved that they are the best cross-country runners by scooping first positions in men’s and women’s categories respectively at this year’s national championships organised by Athletics Association of Malawi (AAM) at Kamuzu Institute for Sports.
Munthali finished the 12km race in 34:10:21, second placed Rodwell Kamwendo in 34:50:95 and John Kayange came third in 36:13:62. Chikwakwa run the 8km race in 25:18:54, Getrude Banda in second position clocked 27:33:66 while Agness Chikwakwa (not related to Catherine) finished in 28:30:22.
Speaking after the race, deputy director of sports in the Ministry of Sports, Youth and Culture, Justin Saidi said lack of synthetic running tracks in the country hampers Malawian athletes at international competitions.
“One of the factors hampering fast development of athletics is lack of synthetic running tracks in the country. It is sad to note that although our athletes participate at international competitions such as the Olympic and Commonwealth Games none of our athletes has reached the qualifying standards,” said Saidi.
He, however, appealed to companies and organisations to assist the government by providing a synthetic running track in one of the stadiums so that our athletes get exposed to this facility.
However, Saidi praised Chikwakwa and Maria Mutola of Mozambique for their hard working spirit which had put their countries on international athletics map.
Among the sporting disciplines that entertained people included body building, karate, netball, boxing, table tennis.
Some of the results were as follows 4km women: Milliam Thole 15:38:23, Bertha Mpinganjira 15:13:24, Patricia Sichali 15:38:23. 4km men: George Mkupatira 11:13:26, Emmanuel Chimdzeka 11:15:56 and McDonald Msuku 11:19:20. 6km women: Alice Msumba who won gold in Mozambique recently clocked 17:27:18, Teleza Master 17:35:14 and Lucia Chandamale 17:45:01. 8km men Mike Tebulo 22:18:54, Henderson Lakalaka 23:16:71 and Alick Phiri 23:30:65.
AAM vice president George Mussa thanked all athletes for their grand fight.
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