Tapiwanashe (Carlie) Makarawu Competes in Budapest at the World Athletics Championships

Thunderbird track & field student-athlete Tapiwanashe (Carlie) Makarawu will represent the country of Zimbabwe in Budapest, Hungary at the World Athletics Championships. 

The World Athletics Championships take place every two years with it occurring one year before the Summer Olympics and one year after. 

The three-time track & field individual national champion is competing in heat two of the 200m dash on USA Network. The second heat of the event will begin around 12:22 p.m. in Budapest or 4:22 a.m. for those cheering on from Hobbs, NM.

Makarawu's personal best is a 19.98 he ran in the prelims at the outdoor national championships this year. 

"I am very excited to run, but at the same time I am a bit nervous that I am going to be competing against these world-class professional athletes," Makarawu said. "If I could choose to run against anyone in the world right now it would be Noah Lyles or Kenneth Bednarek. It would be great to compete alongside them in Budapest."

Makarawu will get his wish to compete against Lyles head-to-head as he is currently slated to be in the same heat as the American 100m world champ on Wednesday. The top three finishers in each heat will advance to the semi-final of the 200m on Aug. 24 at 12:20 p.m. MDT.  

Makarawu has been rehabbing an injury this summer that he sustained in May when he helped lead the T-Birds to an outdoor national championship.

"I am not sure how I will perform coming off my injury from outdoor nationals in May," Makarawu said. "I am going to go out there and enjoy myself and have fun. I have a target that I wish to hit, which would be to make it to the finals, but really, I am just excited to race."

Representing his country on the national stage is a fantastic achievement for the Zimbabwe native. Makarawu joked that he can't wait to receive the national team gear and return to Hobbs wearing it around NMJC teammate and fellow countryman Takudzwa (Donald) Chiyangwa.

Fans can catch Makarawu live on USA Network at 4:22 a.m. MDT on Wednesday, Aug. 23.