US-based rising star Kudakwashe Chadenga has set another new national record in the high jump barely a week after breaking a long standing national mark which had been standing since January 2000.
Chadenga was yet again the toast of the South Plains College track and field team after breaking his own week-long Zimbabwe high jump record with a best jump of 2.22m at the Texas Tech Shootout at the Texas Tech Sports Performance Center.
The 19 year-old rising star went 2.20m at the Charlie Thomas Invitational on February 5 to break the country’s 22 year old national indoor high jump record of 2.16m set by George Maringapasi on January 15, 2000 in New York.
South Plains head coach Erik Vance described the former Prince Edward School prodigy as one of the best jumpers he has coached in his career and tipped him for a very bright future ahead in the sport.
“Kudakwashe is as competitive as some of the best high jumper I’ve ever had,” Vance said in an interview with South Plains College’s official website.
“He’s one of the best high jumpers I have had, and he doesn’t want to lose and gets after it. He has some serious natural talent, and I’m excited for what the future holds.”
Meanwhile the Zimbabwe Olympic Committee (ZOC), who have been closely following Chadenga’s progress have been impressed by his consistency as he edges closer to reaching the Olympic qualification marl of 2.30m.
“The new National Record is now 2.22m. Kudakwashe Chadenga has done it again‼ Olympic qualification is 2.30m. He is 8cm out. With this kind of progress we hope in next two years he will be jumping 2.30+ consistently,” ZOC said in a statement on the official Facebook page.
Chadenga is the young brother of Munyaradzi, who has represented Zimbabwe at the African Games.
Prior to his move to the US on an athletic scholarship, Kudakwashe had been training at the Sports Science Lab (SSL) Performance Hub in Mt Pleasant, Harare.