 as he continues to make huge strides in his career in the US.){kind=link}
Zimbabwe high jump sensation Kudakwashe Chadenga will join the collegiate track and field powerhouse Louisiana State University (LSU) as he continues to make huge strides in his career in the US.
Despite missing out on this year’s World Athletics Championships, Chadenga is currently one of the brightest prospects in the sport.
The 20-year-old former Prince Edward School pupil has been a dominant force on the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) since his move to South Plains College in Texas last year on an athletic scholarship.
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Since his move to the US, Chadenga has won the NJCAA indoor and outdoor titles twice each in consecutive seasons and will be hoping to continue his development with track powerhouse LSU as he makes the step up to the top division of the NationalCollege Athletic Association (NCAA).
Chadenga also holds the current national high jump recordbof 2.26 meters which he set in January on his way to winning the high jump title at the Corky Classic held at the Texas Tech University.
The high jump star also previously held national high jump record of 2.22 metres which he set in February last year.
Welcome to the Bayou, Kuda! 🐅
▪️ Harare, Zimbabwe
▪️ South Plains College
▪️ NJCAA National Champion x4
▪️ Zimbabwe HJ NR holder (2.26m)#GeauxTigers x @KudakwasheChad4— LSU Track & Field (@LSUTrackField) August 28, 2023
He first made history by being the first Zimbabwean to clear the 2.20m mark in the high jump to break the then long standing high jump national record of 2.16 metres at the Charlie Thomas Invitational in College Station, Texas last February.
Chadenga has over the past few months attracted interest from several top universities in the US with several track and field powerhouses such as Texas A&M University, the University of Alabama, University of Kentucky and Aurban University all offering him scholarships while he was given a tour of their world class facilities.
The gifted Zimbabwean athlete however opted for a move to LSU where he will have an opportunity to work with revered coach Todd Lane who led LSU alumni JuVaughn Harrison to World Athletics Championships silver this past week with a world-leading height of 2.36 meters.
“I chose LSU because I saw it was a school that need me, and I needed them,” said Chadenga.
“Once I came on a visit, I knew that once I committed here they would be able to help me reach my full potential. Looking at coach Todd and what he has done with his athletes over the years, I felt like I would be in good hands.”
At the age of 20, Chadenga has already reached a height of 2.22 meters (outdoors) and 2.26 meters (indoors).
His personal best indoor height of 2.26m ranks eighth in African history.
This past season, Kuda reached heights of 2.20 meters, indoors and 2.24 meters, outdoors. His personal records are Zimbabwe records and his indoor PR is an NJCAA record.
Last year Chadenga was named the USTFCCCA NJCAA Indoor Men’s Field Athlete of the Year.