New-look Squad Part of Chengelo School's Winning Formula

Chengelo Elite Athletics Squad play their part to win Copperbelt Regionals.

The 2016 ISAZ Athletics Regionals gave Chengelo Elite Athletics Squad the chance to show their progress and test themselves against the best that ISAZ Copperbelt schools have to offer. All seven athletes who have been training as part of the squad this term were selected in multiple events that included 200m, 400m, 800m, 1500m, Long Jump, Triple Jump, High Jump and Shot Put as well as both relays.

Stella Chanda started things off in the 1500m and qualified easily for the Finals in 2 weeks’ time. Her time of 5 minutes 47.22 seconds was only five seconds off the ISAZ record. She has been pushing herself hard in training with some long runs to improve endurance and it paid off as she comfortably came home in first place.

Meanwhile, David Kumwenda was showing that he has made great progress in Long Jump this year. He twice jumped 5.80m to win his event and set a new personal best. David is looking capable of achieving his target of recording a six-metre jump during the ISAZ Finals.

The three Bangalas were selected to represent Chengelo in the 200m. Emmanuel was up first, running his first ever Secondary ISAZ race. He finished second in a personal best time of 27.15 seconds but will take confidence from the fact that he will be competing in the under-14 category for two more years and was up against some older boys this year. Johanna ran a personal best and an ISAZ record to win her under-16 girls’ race in 25.35 seconds. Maria also won with ease, clocking 26.83 seconds in the under-19 category.

Five out of the six 400m runners for Chengelo were members of the Elite Squad. Newcomer Sofia Kashiba won her race and showed an impressive exhibition of speed endurance right through to the finish line. Emmanuel again came up just short of victory in his race but did finish second to an excellent athlete from Trident School. Johanna Bangala won in an ISAZ record of 59.24 seconds, her best time ever on grass. Kanjengo Muzungu finished second to ISAZ “legend” Victor Ndhlovu but recorded a good time of just over 58 seconds. Maria performed brilliantly and pushed herself to a new ISAZ record of 60.19 seconds, just short of her personal target of a sub-60 second 400m.

David was competing in the triple jump as well and came under pressure from the multi-talented Victor Ndhlovu, eventually finishing second with a new personal record of 12.15 metres. David will be looking to win both events in the Finals, despite this being his first year as an under-16.

Stella and Kanjengo ran in the same race as the under-16 boys and girls were combined to save time in the 800m. Stella showed her talent as she finished the first lap at the same time as one of the male competitors! Kanjengo held back on the home straight, finishing second in 2 minutes 22 seconds, knowing that he needed something left in the tank for the 400m relay later on. Stella stormed home to win her race in 2 minutes 50 seconds and qualify for the Finals.

While the 800m races were happening, Emmanuel was qualifying for the Finals in High Jump, showing his versatility in athletics. He will be looking to win a medal in the Finals at Levy Mwanawasa Stadium.

One unexpected occurrence was another record for Johanna… in the Shot Put! She threw the 3.25kg shot 10.49 metres to set a new ISAZ under-16 best throw! Perhaps she is a future heptathlete?

Under the watchful eye of Zambian athletics legend Samuel Matete, all seven athletes in the Elite Squad took part in relays, with Chengelo qualifying for the Finals in twelve out of twelve races. The girls were the most impressive, winning all six of their relays. Stella and Johanna combined in the under-16 4x400m, Sofia ran a great leg in the under-14 edition while Maria brought the under-19 team home in first place for a new ISAZ record of 4 minutes 35.94 seconds. Emmanuel helped the under-14 boys to victory in the 4x400m and Kanjengo played his part in the under-16 boys’ race.

In the 4x100m, Emmanuel ran a great leg in the under-14 race as Chengelo finished second, Johanna ran a solid leg in the under-16 relay as the team missed out on an ISAZ record by 0.32 seconds and David brought home the under-16 boys in third place. Maria’s under-19 team showed great determination to take first place after Mpelembe were clearly in the lead half way through.

Overall it was a good day for the Squad and for Chengelo School, who won the competition and were crowned Copperbelt Champions. They have now won the competition every time they have competed since 2009.

The day finished on a high note as Johanna Bangala received news of a call-up to the Zambian national youth team for the Southern Region Youth Games. This is a remarkable achievement for Johanna, 14, as the age bracket for youth is under-18. She will compete between 16^th and 18^th June in Lusaka.