Makarawu Shatters African 150m Record in Florida Sprint Masterclass

MIRAMAR, FLORIDA – Zimbabwean sprint sensation Tapiwanashe Makarawu has made athletics history, shattering a 33-year-old continental record during a blistering performance at the Miramar Invitational on Saturday. Competing at the Ansin Sports Complex, Makarawu stopped the clock at a staggering 14.96 seconds in the 150-metre sprint, officially becoming the fastest African ever over the distance.

Makarawu’s performance is a landmark achievement for Zimbabwean sports, as he surpassed the long-standing African record of 14.99 seconds set by the legendary Namibian, Frankie Fredericks, at the 1993 World Championships in Stuttgart. In a testament to the sheer speed of the race, Makarawu’s time also edged out the former world record of 14.97 seconds held by British icon Linford Christie since 1994.

Athlete	Country	Time (s)	Achievement
Kishane Thompson	Jamaica	14.92	New World Record
Tapiwanashe Makarawu	Zimbabwe	14.96	New African Record
Frankie Fredericks	Namibia	14.99	Previous African Record (1993)

The race was a historic affair from start to finish. Jamaican superstar Kishane Thompson took the gold, setting a sensational new world record of 14.92 seconds. Makarawu’s ability to push Thompson to the line confirms his status as a legitimate threat to the global sprint elite.

While the 150m is a rarely contested distance, it is frequently used by top-tier sprinters to gauge speed endurance ahead of the 100m and 200m outdoor seasons. Makarawu’s sub-15-second performance signals a massive "warning shot" to his rivals ahead of the major 2026 championship cycles.

"To beat a record held by a giant like Frankie Fredericks is a dream come true. This is for Zimbabwe," Makarawu's camp noted following the race.

Makarawu’s rise has been meteoric since his standout performances on the US collegiate circuit. This latest feat cements him as the spearhead of a new generation of Zimbabwean sprinters, joining the likes of Makanakaishe Charamba in putting the nation back on the global athletics map.

Tapiwanashe Makarawu African record 150m