By Zim Sport Live Writer
US-based Zimbabwean long jumper Tafadzwa Chikomba set the new indoor school record for the Mississippi-based Meridian Community College on his way to clinching the gold medal at the Music City Challenge in Nashville, Tennessee on Saturday.
Chikomba was simply in a class of his oen at the Vanderbilt Multipurpose Facility with no other competitor in the men’s long jump coming close to challenging his winning mark 8.05m.
Kennesaw State University’s Kaelen Mitchell was a distant second with a best jump of 7.58 while Tyler Nichols of University of Southern Mississippi (7.53m) was in third position.
Chikomba 8.05m is the all-time third best mark in the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA).
The 24-year-old Chiredzi-bred athlete is seeking qualification for the World Athletics Championships to be held later this year in Tokyo after narrowly missing out on last year’s Olympic Games.
His personal best is 8.11m.
A product of Malipati High School in Chiredzi, Chikomba joined Meridian Community College in 2023 after being scouted during a competition in Zambia.
He attributes his success to his high school coach Peter Mapengo, who identified his talent at Malipati High School.