By Daniel Nhakaniso
It has already been a season to remember for Zimbabwe’s men’s 400m stars, who have rewritten the national record books, won continental gold, qualified for next year’s World Athletics Championships and secured a historic place at the World Athletics Relays.
On Friday, Leeford Zuze and Dennis Hove added another milestone by powering to a memorable one-two finish at the Barletta International Meeting in Italy.
Zuze stormed to victory in 45.28 seconds, with Hove crossing the line in 45.82 to complete a memorable Zimbabwean clean sweep in the race.
Brazil’s Vinicius Moura Galeno finished third in 45.90, while Italy’s Abdennour Bendjemaa was fourth in 46.06.
The latest success comes after Zimbabwe’s quarter-mile squad has enjoyed one of the finest seasons in the country’s athletics history.
Led by Zuze, Hove and Thandazani Ndhlovu, the team set a new national 4x400m relay record, won gold at the African Senior Athletics Championships, qualified for the World Athletics Relays and booked their place at next year’s World Athletics Championships in Beijing.
Fellow Zimbabwean Ndhlovu has also enjoyed an outstanding European debut recently, smashing the meeting record in Lucca before the baton was effectively passed to Zuze and Hove, who continued the country’s rich vein of form in Barletta.
The dominant display in Barletta is another encouraging sign for Zimbabwe’s resurgent men’s 400m programme, with both athletes continuing to gain valuable international experience and confidence against quality opposition ahead of next year’s World Athletics Championships in Beijing and the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games.