MBABANE – Eswatini’s track campaign concluded today as Bongiwe Mahlalela, Mlandvo Maziya and Thandaza Zwane missed out on the 200m semi-finals.
Despite leaving everything on the track, the trio missed out on semi-final qualification. However, the nation’s fastest woman, Mahlalela, produced a commendable performance to finish fifth in her heat, crossing the line in a season-best time of 24.19 seconds. The display caps a impressive individual campaign for Mahlalela, who had already recorded a season best in Monday’s 100m heats.
In the men’s events, Zwane and Maziya delivered valiant efforts against world-class opposition. Zwane finished fifth in his heat with a time of 21.95 seconds, while Maziya claimed third in his respective race, clocking 21.73 seconds.
Reacting to their performances, the Eswatini Sport and Recreation Council (ESRC) commended the team, noting it was “a strong performance against elite competition in the international arena.”
The sprinters’ exit marks the conclusion of their Glasgow journey, joining swim team members Hayley Hoy, Damien De Sousa and Siwakhile Dlamini, as well as a two-man boxing squad led by Mukelo Dlamini, who were all eliminated earlier in the competition.
Eswatini’s hopes for silverware now rest squarely on the shoulders of former African champion Lamulela Magagula, who begins his judo campaign this Friday, July 31.
The latest track setbacks mean the Kingdom’s wait for a medal on the international stage continues. Eswatini has been searching for a podium finish since retired pugilist Simanga ‘The Boer’ Shiba clinched a memorable bronze in Melbourne, Australia, back in 2006.
