Agnes gains confidence despite poor performances

NAMIBIA’S middle-distance runner Agnes Samaria is finding the going tough on the European circuit ahead of the Athletics World Championships in Finland early next month.

But despite this, she has built a lot of confidence after receiving treatment for her Achilles injury, which has affected her performances since she left earlier this year. Samaria ended sixth in her latest 800-metre race in the DN Galan Grand Prix in Stockholm, Sweden, on Tuesday night.She ran the race in one minute 59,91 seconds, which was her best outdoors time of the season, and below the magic two-minute mark.This was the ninth time in her career that she broke the two-minute barrier.Earlier, Samaria finished third in Eugene in the United States of America, then in eighth position in Athens, and came close to winning when she ended second in France, before she finished in tenth spot in Rome.Most of her times in these races were over two minutes.In another race in Madrid, Samaria ended fifth, after slowing down in the last 80 metres.After those races, Samaria had to be treated for an Achilles tendon injury that was believed to have undermined her performance.During the Stockholm race, Samaria showed some more confidence despite ending in sixth position.She ran the race from the back of the group, running in last position for the first 500m and then gradually moving forwards.In the end, Samaria said she was pleased with her time and her performance on the evening.On Friday, she will participate in the Golden League in Oslo, Norway, before she travels to Helsinki for the World Championships starting on August 6.Samaria is the only Namibian athlete who is regularly competing on the international front, with the aim of having a stake in the World Championships.Earlier, the former teacher indicated that her aim was to compete at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, provided that she stayed injury free.She is one of the elite sport personalities in Namibia who are being sponsored by Mobile Telecommunications Limited (MTC).Samaria, together with professional golfer Joe Nawanga and junior tennis sensation Jurgens Strydom, are fully funded by MTC in their quest for glory on the international arena.Samaria ended sixth in her latest 800-metre race in the DN Galan Grand Prix in Stockholm, Sweden, on Tuesday night.She ran the race in one minute 59,91 seconds, which was her best outdoors time of the season, and below the magic two-minute mark.This was the ninth time in her career that she broke the two-minute barrier.Earlier, Samaria finished third in Eugene in the United States of America, then in eighth position in Athens, and came close to winning when she ended second in France, before she finished in tenth spot in Rome.Most of her times in these races were over two minutes.In another race in Madrid, Samaria ended fifth, after slowing down in the last 80 metres.After those races, Samaria had to be treated for an Achilles tendon injury that was believed to have undermined her performance.During the Stockholm race, Samaria showed some more confidence despite ending in sixth position.She ran the race from the back of the group, running in last position for the first 500m and then gradually moving forwards.In the end, Samaria said she was pleased with her time and her performance on the evening.On Friday, she will participate in the Golden League in Oslo, Norway, before she travels to Helsinki for the World Championships starting on August 6.Samaria is the only Namibian athlete who is regularly competing on the international front, with the aim of having a stake in the World Championships.Earlier, the former teacher indicated that her aim was to compete at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, provided that she stayed injury free.She is one of the elite sport personalities in Namibia who are being sponsored by Mobile Telecommunications Limited (MTC).Samaria, together with professional golfer Joe Nawanga and junior tennis sensation Jurgens Strydom, are fully funded by MTC in their quest for glory on the international arena.