ISAZ Qualifiers: An athlete's perspective.

ISAZ Qualifiers: An athlete's perspective.

The view from the stands on a beautiful day at the Levy Mwanawasa Stadium in Ndola.

The Independent Schools Association of Zambia Track and Field Qualifiers were a great opportunity for us to learn how to pace ourselves and to be self-motivated in order to do well. Other competitions in which we have taken part require us to run against people who are much older and faster than us. This makes it easier for us to get nearer to our personal best times as we have people to chase. 

At the ISAZ Qualifiers, I did a 200m race, a 400m race, a 100m race and two relays. In my 400m race I was able to run a time of 60.78s; this was a second or so off my P.B. so I was quite satisfied with that. In my 200m race, I ran a time of 27.10s and in my 100m race, I ran 13.21s. These were both personal bests.

Kiki and Herbert did very well too. It was unquestionably easy for us to win our races, but our main aim for this competition was to get personal best times without having people to chase. In Kiki’s 100m race he got a time of 11.01s. This was an ISAZ record and Kiki’s P.B. In his 200m race, he got a time of 22.32s which was very impressive.

Herbert ran his 800m race in a time of 2 minutes 25.78s; this was fair and acceptable as he had just recovered from chickenpox.

Overall, the event was a great success for Chengelo and a great encouragement for us to keep working hard. On a sad note, my sister Maria couldn’t make it to the event because of her injury. But thank God she is feeling much better and will be back on the track soon.

By Johanna Bangala

The athletes will now get themselves into shape for the ISAZ Finals on Saturday 14th June.

 

Johanna Bangala win the 100m in 13.21s. (Personal best)

Johanna Bangala crosses the line in the 100m. Photo: Catherine Falcone

Johanna Bangala claims a personal best and an ISAZ record with 27.10s in the 200m.

Johanna Bangala smashes the ISAZ 400m record by over four and a half seconds.

Johanna Bangala leads the 4x100m u-14 girls team home.

Kikwanza Sondashi runs a new personal best and ISAZ record of 11.01s in the 100m.

Kikwanza Sondashi wins the 200m in 22.32s, a personal best and ISAZ record.

Kikwanza Sondashi runs the final leg of the 4x100m relay as the u-16 boys win.

An unfortunate moment in the Senior Boys 200m!


A big "thank you" to Maurizio Facci in Form 1 for filming many of the races!