By GRACE CHAILE –

NATIONAL athletics youth coach, Sydney Mushipi has declared the runners ready for the Africa Youth Games that starts this month in Botswana.
Mushipi said in an interview yesterday that the seven athletes were ready for the Games that start on May 22 in Gaborone and end on May 31.
He said the morale was high in camp and everyone was looking forward to representing the country and winning medals.
Mushipi said Brian Kasinda, who broke the national record of 21:40 seconds in 200m after timing 21:20 seconds, was in good shape to perform even better at the Africa Youth Games.
“The athletes are shaping up well and I am happy with Kasinda who managed to improve on his time and it is not a joke for a runner to improve by 20 seconds and I feel he can do even better as long as they remain focused,” he said.
Mushipi said apart from fighting for medals, the runners will use the Games to earn qualification to the Nanjing 2014 Youth Games to be hosted by China.
“It will be nice for the runners to also break their time records.
“I am happy with the discipline and determination the athletes have shown during training and I am hopeful of a good outing in Botswana,” he said.
The seven member team has Kasinda (100m and 200m), Sydney Siame (200m), Godfrey Chama (400m), Hazembe Chidaka (100m), long distance runner Eunice Kabwali (1500m), Unity Sibooli (3000m) and Abigail Chungu in 1200m.
The team is scheduled to leave for Botswana on May 19.