20/07/2026
Juniors Shine At The 2026 Nationals
20.07.2026
Zambia Athletics successfully hosted the inaugural national trials at Ndola's Levy Mwanawasa Stadium.
The Competition which is ratified by World Athletics, drew both senior & junior athletes from across the country & from the Democratic Republic of Congo, providing for a great 2 day spectacle of athletic prowess.
With eyes firmly set on the Dakar Youth Olympics, Maputo Region 5 Youth games & USA Under 20 World Youth championships coming on later this year, the countries top rising talents stole the show as the 200M men's junior final produced the quicker times upstaging the men's senior final as Kansanshi's Konga Maseka, Red Arrows's Nchimunya Munsanje, Samuel Matete's Nathan Matete & Kitwe Cheetahs Gilbert Ngulube posted 21:55, 21:76, 21:78 & 21:84 in an exhilarating battle with Munsanje & Matete setting New Personal Bests!
The men's senior 100M final however produced the faster times with Justice Chivwamba of Green Buffaloes & Choongo Malambo of Red Arrows timing 10:91 &10:92.
Ruth "Kadoli" Chanda of Chambishi, continued her dominance over the 100M & 200M as she posted 11:97 / 24:72 ahead of Red Arrows's Chillah & Shellah Chongo who clocked 12:29 / 25:54 & 12:74 / 25:91, new Personal bests for Shellah whose previous PB's were 12:85
& 26:30, with Kitwe Cheetahs Taonga Chirwa timing 12:60 / 25:94.
In the high jump, youngsters Mwimba Musonda of Konkola, Owen Malamulo Mazabuka & Michael "Money Mike" Miti of Zambia Police got the crowd going as the seesaw affair concluded with the konkola protege Mwimba cheered on by his Olympian Dad Enock Musonda, who competed in the 400M at the 1988 Olympics clearing 1.95M to set a new personal best as Malamulo & Miti settled for 2nd & 3rd after taking the bar to 1.89M & 1.80M respectively.
There other stand out performances from the juniors as Kasama's Frank Mulenga emerged victorious in the Discus with a 39.84M throw ahead of Nchanga's Isaac Zulu who threw 39.40M. Ediness Makina of Kansanshi emerged champion in the 3000M with a time of 10:29:87 while settling for 2nd in the 1500M behind senior national team athlete Christabel K***a of Green Eagles
Posting 4:44:76.
What the Athlete said:
High jump national champion Mwimba Musonda
"It was very competitive, I had Mike from SACA who has experienced competing with athletes from other countries & Owen as well who gave me a challenge at last years National Youth games in Lusaka where both cleared 1.90M but he won because I failed once at 1.85M. I feel good honestly setting a new Personal best & lm looking forward to working with Coach Sinkala because I have the potential & I believe there's so much I can do, I'm now targeting to clear 2 meters."
What the coach said:
Youth Under 18 Coach Mike Musanda
"It was great performances by juniors with their final producing 5 sub 22 seconds.
In field events, we saw another young high jumper Mwimba Musonda posting the height of 1.95. In the throws, Frank Mulenga from Kasama, became the Junior Champion in Discus and Shot put with 39.87 and 12.20 respectively.
At the moment, we await to see the shortlisted athletes for the upcoming international competitions. Otherwise, we are confident it's going to be a formidable team."
Zambia Athletics Media
