Zimbabwean Mapaya Jumps For Gold In Algeria 

Zimbabwean triple jumper Chengetayi Mapaya won a gold medal after breaking records in Algeria. The athlete was part of the Zimbabwean team that took part in the African Junior Athletics Championships.

The St George’s College student broke South Africa’s Olympic silver medallist, Godfrey Khotso Mokoena’s 2004 record of 16,96 metres. Mapaya jumped his best mark of 16,30 metres, breaking the African Junior Athletics Championships record of 16,16 metres set by Ali Bouguesba of Algeria in 2009.

He also broke his own national record of 16,01 metres he set at the Southern Region Senior Track and Field Championships held last month at the National Sports Stadium.

His mark in the Algerian city of Tlemcen was short of the long standing African junior triple jump record of 16,96 metres set by South Africa’s Olympic silver medallist, Godfrey Khotso Mokoena in Bloemfontein, South Africa, in April 2004.

He finished ahead of silver medal holder Ethiopia’s Adir Gur Ochalla, and Morroco’s Soufiane Zakour claimed the bronze medal. 

Ochalla best leap was 15,65 metres while Zakour jumped at 15,13 metres.

Mapaya’s victory added to Zimbabwe’s five medals with three gold, two silver and bronze medals.