TEAM Zimbabwe at the Southern Region Senior Athletics Championships has made an impression on the regional stage, amassing 34 medals in the track and field contest held at the University of Zimbabwe main arena this Sunday.

The future of Zimbabwean athletics appears to be in safe hands after the youngsters entrusted with representing the country in the Southern Region Senior Athletics Championships in Harare, won the most medals in the regional contest.

With a vision of increased participation at the 2028 Olympics, the National Athletics Association of Zimbabwe (NAAZ) fielded a younger team mainly composed of teenagers for developmental purposes.

The move paid off as the younger contingent proved its worth against regional powerhouses like Botswana, claiming six gold medals, 15 silver and 13 bronze, the most by any of the 10 participating countries.

“Our focus has shifted to the next generation. We want to produce athletes that can represent us at the 2028 Olympics and we are confident with this exposure we will realise our goal and have double figures representing the nation from athletics, said NAAZ president, Tendai Tagara.

“Those guys are big and I’m very small. I have to work hard because I have to go to the Olympics in 2028. So I will continue working very hard and I promise I will go to the Olympics,” noted Zimbabwean athlete Shayne Makota

Another athlete, Tendai Zimuto said, “I have already qualified for Tokyo 2025, so this is preparation towards there, though I normally run the 42 kilometres. So I am getting there.”

Botswana clinched the most gold medals with a total of 11 but were second-best in total haul, finishing 12 medals behind hosts Zimbabwe.